Vitality Supreme

New York: Physical Culture Publishing, 1915. First Edition. Softcover. Good. 12mo 7" - 7. A perfectly serviceable reference copy; nothing fancy, but complete and internally quite sturdy. Edges of blue softpaper wraps are sunned a bit, short splits to front joint, else clean and unmarked of interior. Facsimile signature at the end of the author's Preface. 259 pp. and with publisher's ads following. Plentiful black-and-white photographs of both a man (him) and an unnamed woman in exercise positions including serially so. Bernarr Macfadden (born Bernard Adolphus McFadden, August 16, 1868 – October 12, 1955), according to his Wikipedia entry, "was an American proponent of physical culture, a combination of bodybuilding with nutritional and health theories. He founded the long-running magazine publishing company Macfadden Publications." Born in Mill Spring, Missouri, he changed both first and last names to give the appearance of greater strength and masculinity. Weak and sickly as a child (aren't they always?), then orphaned, "he was placed with a farmer and began working on the farm. The hard work and wholesome food on the farm turned him into a strong and fit boy," though later moves to the big cities made him a "physical wreck" before he started training himself anew. Four wives and with the third, he fathered eight children. He ran for multiple political offices including U.S. President.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.