Rugby - 1906 - Sportboek

Title: The Complete Rugby Footballer on the New Zealand SystemAuthors: Dave Gallaher (Captain) & William J. Stead (Vice-Captain)Publisher: Methuen & Co., LondonEdition: Second Edition, November 1906 (First published September 1906)Bonus: Includes an incredibly rare, loose original Methuen 4-page spring 1923 book catalogue insert!Description:An exceptional opportunity to own a legendary piece of rugby history. Written by captain Dave Gallaher and vice-captain Billy Stead of the original 1905 New Zealand "All Blacks" touring team. This landmark book outlines the revolutionary "New Zealand System" that changed rugby forever.This copy is the highly collectible second edition from November 1906, published just two months after the first edition. It includes the iconic Māori War-Cry (Haka) lyrics and translation on the opening pages, the David Gallaher frontispiece portrait, and all 35 photographic illustration plates.Unique Collector's Extra:This specific copy comes with a rare, loose publisher's promotional leaflet: "Messrs. Methuen’s New Books / New Novels, Spring 1923". Ephemera like this rarely survives over a century, making this a highly unique set for serious sports memorabilia collectors.Condition Details:Please review all high-resolution photos carefully as they form part of the description.Front Cover: Features the beautiful, scarce original gold-gilt embossed New Zealand coat of arms. The gilt remains bright and clear.Spine & Binding: Original dark cloth spine with clear gilt lettering and the Methuen logo. Strong, firm binding with minor shelf wear and light bumping to the corners and spine ends.Interior: Complete, clean text pages, and crisp photographic plates showing rugby tactics. No major ink underlinings or severe tearing.Insert: The 1923 Methuen flyer is intact with minor age-toning, a fantastic addition.