The JS Gericke Library has recently added  quite a sizable new addition to their Rare Books collection – 40 kg, to be exact, which is the weight of the new book G.O.A.T. – a tribute to Muhammad Ali. Measuring 50 cm x 50 cm, the scale of this book alone is a tribute to Ali – the self proclaimed Greatest Of All Time. It was described in Der Spiegel (Hamburg, October 6, 2003) as

   …the biggest, heaviest, most radiant thing ever printed in the history of civilization

This remarkable work, published by Taschen, appears in a collector’s edition, limited to 9000 copies, and a champ’s edition, limited to 1000 copies. The Library acquired no. 6789 of the collector’s edition, which boasts the signatures of both Muhammad Ali and conceptual artist Jeff Koons. The book contains more than 3000 images, some previously unpublished, as well as several essays on and interviews with Ali.

The book can be viewed on request at Special Collections in the JS Gericke Library, on condition that the white gloves which came with the book are donned by the patron. Be warned though, the 792 intriguing pages dedicated to this 20^th Century icon might keep you busy for a while…

For a sneak preview, visit www.taschen-goat.com

If you need more information, please contact Mimi van der Merwe at tel.: 808-4881 or e-mail: mseyf@sun.ac.za