Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Muhammad Ali. A Portrait in Words and Photographs [SIGNED]

Sheed, Wilfrid

New York: Lawrence Schiller, 1975. First edition. Hardcover. Signed "Ali" on title page at a Book Soup event with his photographer Howard L. Bingham in 1993, Hollywood. Due to the effects Parkinsons Disease had taken on Ali's health he signed the book with just "Ali."

Quarto. 255 (1)pp. Original red textured paper boards with blind-stamped lettering on cover, gilt on spine, in original color photo-illustrated dustjacket, white lettering on spine. Photo-illustrated endpapers. Frontispiece photographs in color. Jacket photograph by Curt Gunther. Photo credits on verso of title page. "Unlike other celebrities who can do as they damn please, the heavyweight champion up to now has had certain moral responsibilities, more like a spiritual leader. As the strongest man in the world, one-on-one, he is supposed to set an example incivility, like an English policeman." Sheed characterizes Ali as the "champion who refused to sit still in his robes and make like an Archbishop..." Sheed tracks Ali from his days as a sophisticated amateur boxer in Louisville to his Olympic and subsequent professional triumphs. He plumbs Ali's relationship with his father and describes how Ali became a Black Muslim acquiring a second father, Elijah Muhammad. He analyses the furor accompanying Ali's draft evasion. And to confirm his speculations about the many faces of Ali he observes the man at close range–in this dressing room before a pair of title fights, in private and unguarded moments with his family and friends, and sparring with reporters." (Publisher). Profusely illustrated with color and some b/w photographs throughout. Dustjacket with light wear along edges, very light chipping and on small closed tear. Binding with very light wear along edges, else in fine condition. Very good to fine condition. Item #49084
ISBN: 0690009585

Price: $800.00