[Boxing] [O'Brien, “Philadelphia Jack”] Boxing Silk

(Newcastle, England), June 25, 1901. Boxing silk for the English heavyweight championship fight between "Philadelphia Jack" O’Brien and Englishman Harry Newmier, with portrait of O'Brien at center, approximately 25 x 29 1/2 in. (635 x 749 mm). Loss along edges; tattered with separations and losses; old staining in right side.

An exceptionally rare boxing silk for the English heavyweight championship fight between "Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien and Englishman Harry Newmier, held on June 25, 1901 in Newcastle, England. "A thumping affair. Both stood toe to toe mixing things at lightning gait, fighting in holds and rolling on the floor together." (The Bulletin, August 17, 1901, p. 24). O'Brien won the bout in a knockout in the sixth round, defending the heavyweight title he had won in his previous fight against George Crisp.

O'Brien (1878-1942) was one of the greatest light heavyweight fighters of all time. Standing five feet ten inches tall, he was known for his agility and his swift cutting left jabs. He began fighting in 1896, and by 1900 was considered one the most promising and up and comers in the ring in the United States. Due to the number of able men in his weight group in America, O'Brien conceived the idea to fight in England, "where, he heard, competition was softer" (Liebling, Back Where I Came From, p. 116). During his 1902 tour he fought 14 matches, winning all of them, with five knockouts, including the above six-round slugfest.

O'Brien returned to Philadelphia toward the end of 1902, where he was met with a hero's greeting by the Mayor and over 10,000 cheering spectators. Upon his return he dominated American boxing, and in 1905 defeated Bob Fitzsimmons for the heavyweight title. During his career, O'Brien fought 192 matches, winning 147 (including 55 KO's). He was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1987, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

These boxing silks were typically produced by the promoter's of the respective matches as souvenirs. We have not been able to locate another example of this silk in the auction record.

A Philadelphia and boxing rarity.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

[Boxing] [O'Brien, “Philadelphia Jack”] Boxing Silk

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