Swimming by Charles Norelius (RARE Signed First Edition), 1934 🏊‍♂️📜🏆

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, personally signed first edition of Swimming, a comprehensive guide to the sport by the prominent Swedish-American swimming champion and coach, Charles Norelius. Published in 1934, this book is a historical record of swimming instruction and a valuable artifact of American sports history.

This book is a tangible link to a pivotal era of competitive swimming. Its unique provenance makes this a premier acquisition for any serious library. It is a genuine collector's item due to its:

• Signed first edition status, which is a rare find.

• Personally inscribed dedication from the author.

• Historical value as a chronicle of swimming instruction from an Olympic champion.

 

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2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Swimming is a comprehensive instructional guide that details various swimming strokes, diving methods, and water safety practices. The author shares his expertise through clear and accessible prose, making this book a valuable resource for both novices and experienced swimmers.

The book is a historical record of swimming instruction and is an important document for understanding the evolution of swimming techniques. It includes:

• Numerous black-and-white photographs that demonstrate the various swimming and diving techniques of the 1930s.

• A detailed look at Norelius's philosophy on swimming, including his advocacy for the modern crawl style.

• A comprehensive guide to swimming instruction from a prominent sportsman of his era.

 

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Bror Charles Norelius (1882-1974) was a Swedish-American swimmer and coach. He was a Swedish champion in 1903, 1904, and 1905, and a member of the Swedish Olympic Team in 1906. After gaining popularity as an Olympian, Norelius became a swimming coach and an early advocate of the modern crawl style.

Norelius later moved to the United States and coached there for many years. His most famous trainees included triple Olympic champion Martha Norelius, who was his daughter. His legacy is defined by his commitment to swimming instruction and his contributions to the sport.

 

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1934, this book is an artifact of a period of immense change in American sports history. It was a time of growing popularity for swimming as a competitive sport and a shift toward modern techniques.

The book is a "time capsule" of mid-20th-century American sports and social thought. It captures the spirit of an era when physical fitness and athletic achievement were highly valued. The book also provides a unique context for the inscription, which was made in 1945 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where Norelius was working in rehabilitation during World War II.

 

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American sports history, a scholar of swimming, or a private collector of unique signed artifacts. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's intellectual significance and its documented personal history.

The author's inscription and his Olympic legacy make this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind an artifact. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of:

• Sports, history, and Americana.

• The enduring legacy of Olympic champions.

• Unique provenance, such as a personal inscription that adds to its historical journey.

 

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare, self-published, signed first edition from 1934, this book is a uniquely scarce asset. The value is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age. The book's provenance is significantly enhanced by a personal inscription from the author, Charles Norelius.

The book's worth is enhanced by:

• Verifiable Provenance: The book has a personal inscription from the author, Charles Norelius, which adds to its authenticity.

• Author's Acclaim: Charles Norelius was an Olympic champion and a prominent coach, which adds to the book's value.

• Unique Details: The inscription provides a specific date (October 27, 1945) and location (White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.), which places the book in a specific moment in time.

 

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This copy is a well-preserved piece showing authentic wear consistent with its age from the mid-20th century. The binding is a hardcover with a dust jacket. The dust jacket is visibly and heavily damaged, which authenticates its long life. The pages remain clear and readable.

• Binding: The book is a hardcover with a blue cloth binding. It has a tight and sound binding and a clean interior. The endpapers are blue marbled.

• Dust Jacket: The dust jacket is heavily damaged, with large tears, rubbing, and creasing. The original price is not visible.

• Interior: The pages show significant foxing and discoloration throughout, a natural process for paper from this period. The text and photographs are clear and readable.

• Signature: The book has a personal inscription from the author, Charles Norelius, in blue ink on the front endpaper.

 

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The author, Charles Norelius, was a Swedish swimming champion and a member of the Swedish Olympic Team in 1906.

• He later coached his daughter, Martha Norelius, who became a triple Olympic champion.

• The book is a self-published work from a prominent sportsman, which adds to its rarity.

• The book contains numerous black-and-white photographs that demonstrate the swimming techniques of the 1930s.

• The inscription is dated to October 27, 1945, and Norelius was working in rehabilitation during World War II at Ashford General Hospital in White Sulphur Springs, which is the location of the inscription.

• The book is a historical record of Norelius's advocacy for the modern crawl style, which he argued was more efficient than other techniques.

 

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Swimming

• Author/Maker: Charles Norelius

• Year: 1934

• Publisher/Foundry: Charles Norelius

• Place of Origin: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, USA

• Format/Binding: Hardcover with Dust Jacket

• Edition: First Edition, Signed

• Rarity: Very Rare

• Transcription:

  With my very best wishes to Lt. Virginia L. Reid Charles Norelius. White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Oct. 27-1945.