The Book of Baseball: The National Game from the Earliest Days to the Present Season

New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1911. Pictorial boards. Near Fine. Charles Dana Gibson. A notably well-preserved, sharp copy of the fragile 1911 1st edition, with its iconic Charles Dana Gibson front cover (in its bright blues and oranges). Most famously though, this book can claim credit for having published the first known photograph of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. A team photo (on pg. 116) of "The New Orleans Club--Champions, Southern Association, 1910" shows "Joe Jackson (#12)", sitting on the bottom row, 3rd from the right. A host of other crisp black-and-white photos (including Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, A.G. Spalding, Cap Anson, John J. Evers, Frank L. Chance, Christy Mathewsen, John J. McGraw, Walter Johnson, Connie Mack. etc.) complement the text throughout. A clean, tight and solid folio (having been professionally, tastefully re-inforced at the inner hinges). Very light spotting to the panels, just a touch of mild soiling at the front pastedown. Otherwise, clean and sharp internally, with no wiriting or soiling to speak of. A very presentable copy of one of the great early histories of the nascent game.