The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence

Banbury, Prize Fighting Ring, 1789, copper medals (2), unsigned, bust of Thomas Johnson left, rev. science and intrepidity, etc, 34mm, 18.46g/12h (DH Warwickshire 12); bust of Isaac Perrins right, rev. strength and magnanimity, etc, 34mm, 18.53g/12h (DH Warwickshire 13) [2]. Very fine and better, both with a little original colour but first with rim knock (£50-70)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence.

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Collection

Provenance:
Fawcett/Litman Collection, additionally:
DH 12 T.E. Tatton Collection, Sotheby Auction, 6-7 November 1911, lot 268 (part)
DH 13 F.W. Lincoln Collection, Glendining Auction, 12-13 February 1936, lot 166 (part).

Isaac Perrins (1750-1801), prize-fighter and engineer employed by Boulton & Watt. A giant of a man, 6ft 2in in bare feet and weighing 17 stone, he was the champion boxer of the Midlands with a reputation of beating his opponents in under five minutes. He issued a challenge of £500 to meet any man in the country, an offer which attracted the attention of Thomas Jackling, aka Johnson (†1797), the London and England champion since 1783. The match was made at Banbury on 22 October 1789 and, in a tournament of mixed fortune watched by 3,000 people, which lasted 75 minutes and comprised no less than 62 rounds, Johnson took victory and a large purse, reputed to be over £1,000. Perrins is said never to have fought again (Chaloner, History Today, 1973, pp.740-3); not so Johnson, whose patrons introduced him to racing and gambling. In January 1791 Johnson lost his title to Benjamin ‘Big Ben’ Brain at Wrotham, Kent; subsequently he dissipated his fortune gambling and ended his days teaching boxing in Cork