Black Dynamite

New York: The Ring; Nat Fleischer, 1938-1947 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 6". Not Stated. Four first edition volumes of Nat Fleischer's study of the history and influence of African American boxers on the sport. Four volumes only of a five volume work. Present here are volumes I and volumes III-V.The work of noted American boxing writer and collector Nat Fleischer, who founded the American boxing magazine 'The Ring' in 1922.Present here are:Volume I, 'Black Dynamite: Story of the Negro in Boxing', discussing black boxers between 1782 to 1938. Illustrated with a frontispiece and nine double-sided plates. Collated, complete.Volume III, 'The Three Colored Aces: Story of George Dixon, Joe Gans and Joe Walcott and Several Contemporaries'. With a number of vignette illustrations.Volume IV, "Fighting Furies": Story of the Golden Era of Jack Johnson, Sam Langford and their Negro Contemporaries'. With vignette illustrations throughout.Volume V, "Sockers in Sepia": A Continuation of the Drama of the Negro in Pugilistic Competition'. With vignette illustrations throughout.Former owner's inscription to volume I front free endpaper, with clear laminate applied to binding of volume V. In the publisher's original cloth bindings. Bumping to back strip heads and tails, with discolouration to back strips. Clear laminate applied over the cloth binding of volume V. Remnants of removed adhesive to front and rear pastedowns of volumes III and IV. Front hinge of volume III strained, but firmly held. Inscription to volume I front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages lightly age toned, with the odd spot or light handling mark throughout. Very Good