THE JEWISH BOXING CHAMPION IN 1788!

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

Original, very rare, "1788" dated, color tinted print published by S. W. Fores, London titled: "FOUL PLAY, OR HUMPHRIES AND JOHNSON A MATCH FOR MENDOZA." 12 x 14 ½; original wide margins. Depicts a wild melee of six typically dressed, bare knuckle 18'th century boxers in a wild free-for-all in a boxing ring (and two fully dressed referees looking on). The two featured boxers Richard Humphries and DANIEL MENDOZA are each backed up (and joined in battle) by two other boxers. (Those two with Mendoza are both Jews named "Jacobs" and "Isaacs." The lengthy caption below details the "…Extraordinary match fought at Odiham in Hampshire January 9, 1788 [the previous week before the dated publication of this print]. After 25 minutes of contest, Mendoza, by his superior skill carrying off the honors of the day from his antagonist…[etc.]" with further details of the fight, ending with the final words attributed to Johnson: "I have done the Jew." Although defeated by Humphries in that match, Mendoza just six months later beat Humphries on a re-match…and won a third match with him in 1790. Mendoza was famed for having revolutionized the technique of boxing in England. His three bouts with Humphries (and other boxers, too) aroused new interest in the sport. It was following his earlier 1787 match with Samuel Martin "THE BATH BUTCHER" that Mendoza, known as the young "STAR OF ISRAEL" was first noticed. His subsequent ring success brought him to the attention of the Prince of Wales; he became the first boxer to receive royal patronage; that very acceptance by royalty helped ease the position of the Jews in the English community. He proudly billed himself as "MENDOZA THE JEW." Original light color tinting. Very rare Judaica, carrying with it a wonderful story! Accompanied with three important bio sketches from various Jewish encyclopedias plus a lengthy bio sketch from the British "Dictionary of National Biography"Published by Oxford Univ. Press. Exc.+ condition. Two tiniest nicks extreme edge of blank bottom margin only. Very rare.

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