TEN POUNDS OF GOLD

 
"A fabulous book!" - James. J. Dillon

"To anyone who cares about the NWA, its history, and, of course, the famous "Ten Pounds of Gold," this book really is a necessity."
- Tim Hornbaker, LegacyOfWrestling.com
Author of "National Wrestling Alliance"

"...a love letter to championship belts, ones that have deep meaning and stand for something."
- Greg Oliver, Slam! Wrestling

"The book, beautifully illustrated and drenched in history, is worth its weight in gold."  - Mike Mooneyham, Charleston Post & Courier





Full Color Version
$29.95
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Full Color, Softcover, 152 pages


Black & White Version
$14.95
Buy Now on Amazon.com
Black & White, Softcover, 152 pages


In October of 2008, Dick Bourne and Dave Millican had the rare opportunity to inspect and photograph the genuine NWA world heavyweight championship belt worn and defended in the 1970s and 1980s by Ric Flair, Jack Brisco, Harley Race, and others. Not long afterwards, Bourne decided to put together a book about the history and construction of the NWA belt, a chance to share with others the opportunity they had been fortunate enough to have. The result was “Ten Pounds of Gold".


This 2012 full color Revised & Expanded Second Edition of the 2009 book contains 70 additional pages of photographs, memorabilia, and historical information, plus a new title history chapter with behind the scenes details, and an expanded chapter on the night the belt was first presented and defended.

Plus all the material in the original book including champion profiles, detailed and close-up photos of the belt itself and a detailed history of how it was made.

Legends of the mat from Harley Race to James J. Dillon have publicly commented on the book, and Ric Flair admitted to learning things he had never noticed before when the belt was in his possession after it had been retired for nearly twenty years. Ric had never noticed that Kerry Von Erich had carved his initials into the main plate of the belt, a detail first revealed in the photographs in these pages.

Drawing from their interest, experience, and research, Bourne and Millican proudly present the NWA belt as you’ve never seen it before. A belt enthusiast's dream come true. As one of their customers once wrote, "The only thing that could be better would be to hold the actual belt. This book is that good."


"The only thing that could be better would be to hold the actual belt. This book is that good."  - Eric King, Rural Retreat, VA

"From cover to cover, the book is amazing."
- Mark James, MemphisWrestlingHistory.com

"Now we go to school: Ten Pounds of Gold has everything you always wanted to know about the NWA belt ... but were too much of a mark to ask."   -Scott Bowden, Kentucky Fried Rasslin'


http://bookstore.midatlanticgateway.com


A Note Regarding the Contributions of Libnan Ayoub

In the early printings of the second edition of the Ten Pounds of Gold book, I failed to acknowledge the contributions of Libnan Ayoub to the title history portion of the book, a careless error I deeply regret. Libnan, a respected wrestling historian in Australia, provided information to me via email regarding the controversial short-term title changes between Ric Flair and Harley Race in New Zealand and Singapore in 1984. I included some of this information in several paragraphs on pages 127-128 in the book. (The information relates to the dates and circumstances under which the title was returned to Ric Flair in Singapore.)

The failure to mention Libnan in my acknowledgements was mine alone and not the fault of any editor or other contributor to the book. I offer my apology to him and thank him here publicly for the information he provided. Current printings of the book include a proper acknowledgement.

I generally go out of my way to credit those who contribute to these projects, be it here on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway or in published printed material. I regret not having done so in this case.

 

 
Ten Pounds of Gold Copyright © 2009, 2012  Richmond W. Bourne
Cover Photograph Copyright © 2008 Richmond W. Bourne. All Rights Reserved.
Website and all images Copyright © Mid-Atlantic Gateway
NWA Title Defenses (In Progress)