8x11.25" soft cover with 64 pages c.1904 sub-titled “The World’s Champion Edited & Illustrated By R. Edgren” has nice front cover art of Jeffries in boxing pose which is also used as the centerfold. Book has other illustrations by Edgren as well as numerous photos along with 38 chapter life story including ring record listing fights between 1893 and August 26th, 1904. Title page has bold 2.25x6.25" fountain pen ink inscription “To My Friend Dick Barry Bob Edgren Reno July 4th 1910.”. Book was signed the day of one of boxing’s most famous fights when Jeffries, referred to as the Great White Hope, made a comeback after six years of retirement and fought Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson. Jeffries lost the fight by TKO after the 15th round. Cover has come totally loose from spine with some lt. dust soil. VG. Two inside text pages have 2" tears at top but contents otherwise Fine/VF with Exc. autograph area. Robert Edgren was a nationally syndicated American political and sports cartoonist and also a member of the American Olympic Team in the discus and shot put competition at the 1906 Summer Olympics. He gained fame with his work on the historic 1897 heavyweight championship fight between Bob Fitzsimmons and Gentleman Jim Corbett and went on to the New York Evening Journal as a political cartoonist and covered the Spanish-American War which brought him greater fame. He was hired by Joseph Pulitzer in 1904 as Sports Editor of The Evening World and his writings and “Miracle Of Sports” cartoons were published nationwide. Book is extremely well done, signed by an important cartoonist and sports writer on a historic day in boxing. From the Richard Merkin Collection and comes with Hake’s COA and JSA LOA.