1882 Walter Camp's "Rules of Football" Book - Only Known Copy

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1882 Walter Camp's "Rules of Football" Book - Only Known Copy

<p>Historically, one of the most important books not just in football, but in all of sports. This is akin to Henry Chadwick laying out the first rules of the game of baseball or James Naismith putting that peach basket up for the first time. These are the first rules of the game as laid out by the by the Father of Football, Walter Camp and the only known copy in existence. Camp was fresh from Yale and these are believed to be his first ever rules. It is not listed in the bible of football books, Guide to Football Literature by Anton Grobani (1975). Published by George Wright's own, "Wright & Ditson...Boston, Massachusetts," it is signed on the cover by "E. Brown" of Easthampton, Massachusetts with his street address. We have not been able to find anything on Mr. Brown, but he was obviously a pioneer of the game. Softcover measures 4x6.5" and is 16 pages with three sections of 38 rules total. Minor wear overall and a spine tear that goes 1/4 up the book. For a value comparison, the book Foot Ball Records of American Teams by Walter Camp recently sold for over $5,000 is now offered for $13,500. An incredible piece, still the first rules is obviously far superior than a record book. A museum piece that belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton or in your own personal Hall of Fame.</p>There is an earlier version of these rules in the Yale Library which is Walter Camp's own copy. This version is the only specimen we know of in private hands. There are copies at Yale and at Springfield College.