53 The Boxers (Oct '58)

Royale Studio - The Boxers

'Boxers' (sometimes known simply as 'Boxers') is one of the earliest known Royale Studio storyettes. 

It stars Don Avard who got Royale their first, beefcake magazine, front cover, of the Spring 1958 issue of 'MAN-ifique'. His and Clavering's friendship with the proprietor, John Barrington, may have helped gain this early recognition. 

Appearing opposite him is Bob Flynn, whose tough guy image takes a bit of a beating, judging by the photo above.

The set is coded DABF based on their initials as was Royale's practice in the early years for sets which were primarily posing (e.g. TIFC Tibor Urgay & Fred Collins) 

 

Royale Ad in Man Alive 2, featuring Set DABF, 'Boxers'

  

'Boxers' was first advertised, quite prominently, in 'Man Alive' No 2 in Oct 1958 (above). Avard's credentials as a boxer were publicised in a lengthy article about him in the May 1958 edition of 'Adonis', which might suggest an earlier publication date  might apply for this set. However, it wasn't featured in previous 'Man Alive' dated in August.

It wasn't included in the 1958 sets still available when the Jan 1960 Royale Catalogue was published. Nor was Don Avard, but Bob Flynn was, possibly because of the flurry of publicity about his sessions with Vic White and Scott around that time.

We don't know how many images there were in the set, only two have been located by the Archive, both in small advertisements, so the quality is not good. 

View 'The Boxers'