Only one name in soccer cuts across team loyalty, national allegiance, fashion and any 'greatest player' ranking. Pelé. No other soccer story compares to this one. He's also the sport's ultimate number 10.
Pelé is a global symbol of where sporting brilliance, drive and humanity can take you and he remains soccer's only genuine, universal icon.
Gloria's 'Pelé' is the luxury, large-format limited edition version of the new, official autobiography by Pelé. The giant, 720-page tome (including gatefolds) finally does justice to his extraordinary life. Two years have been spent researching, sourcing, interviewing, and ultimately producing the greatest ever soccer book. It is limited to a worldwide edition run of 2,500 units only. It includes an introduction and unique, new autobiographical material from the man himself, plus a special tribute to Pelé by Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter, President of FIFA. Finally, each numbered copy is personally hand-signed by Pelé. This is a genuine high-value, long-term investment in a piece of soccer history.
'Pelé' is available now and has been in high demand amongst limited edition collectors and sports fans across the world since its launch during summer 2006.
The images and text cover every key moment of Pelé's life, from early childhood to the modern day. The book contains over 300,000 words including exclusive new biographical contributions from Pelé himself, as well as classic and newly-commissioned work from some of soccer's greatest living writers, including Hugh McIlvanney and Brian Glanville, as well as João Máximo, José Werneck and Juca Kfouri from Brazil.
The collection of over 1,700 images is the result of months of exhaustive research across photo libraries and personal archives in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, London, New York and Paris, and has resulted in the discovery of a treasure trove of photographs, many of which had lain hidden for decades. Expert restoration and reprographic treatment has ensured the quality of the historic photography.
The book includes the work of Allan Tannenbaum, Marvin Newman, Eric Schweikardt, Neil Leifer, William Klein, Juergen Teller, Peter Robinson and Lord Lichfield to name a few, plus rarely seen art by Andy Warhol.
'Pelé' makes a big impact at 45cm x 35cm and weighing over 16kgs. It is also big on graphic style and features breathtaking design and production. The pages are printed throughout in eight colors including resilient metallic inks. The book and specially-created presentation case are covered in printed and embossed Setalux Italian fine silk. The cover is also embroidered with calf-skin yellow leather title lettering.