SIGNED BY THE BAMBINO

RUTH, Babe and CONSIDINE, Bob. The Babe Ruth Story. WITH: The first paperbound edition. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1948. Two volumes. Octavo, original red cloth, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket; Paperbound edition: Slim quarto, original illustrated paper covers. Housed together in a custom clamshell box. $18,500.

First edition of Babe Ruth’s autobiography, illustrated with 49 photographs, signed by Ruth on the half title in the year of publication. Accompanied by a copy of the “paper-bound illustrated edition,” as advertised on the rear flap of the hardbound dust jacket.

"Millions of words have been written about Babe Ruth since he first donned a major league uniform in 1914, but this is the first time the Babe himself has told the incredible story of his sensational career… The Babe Ruth Story transmits the tremendous vitality and lovable personality that make Babe Ruth the most loved figure the sports world has ever known." Ruth signatures from 1948 are quite scarce, as he was in very poor health for much of that year and ultimately died on August 16th. The copyright page of the paperbound edition is directly lithographed from the type-set version in the hardbound edition, with an additional line for the cartoonist. Smith 18833. Grobani 8-19.

Book with signature fine, bright cloth with only a hairline horizontal imperfection, dust jacket with moderate wear and faint pink stain to rear panel. Paperbound edition near-fine, with minor creasing to corners. A wonderful pair of items, with scarce Ruth autograph, signed in the year of publication shortly before Ruth's death.