CRICKETER

[Oxford University Cricket Club, 1922.] Autographs of the eleven, including future England Captain Greville Stevens, the Australian R. H. Bettington, R. C. Robertson-Glasgow and R. L. Holdsworth.

Author: 
Greville Stevens [Greville Thomas Scott Stevens; G. T. S. Stevens] (1901-1970), Oxford University Cricket Club, 1922; England captain [R. H. Bettington; R. L. Holdsworth; R. C. Robertson-Glasgow]
OUCC
Publication details: 
No date or place, but the same eleven that played at Oxford in May 1922.
£120.00
OUCC

On a 16.5 x 20 cm piece of faded and lightly-worn light-green paper, with small diagonal cuts at corners where the item was mounted in an album. The players’ names are neatly presented in a column (there is no other text on either side): ‘OUCC | Greville Stevens | R. L. H. Holdsworth | J. D. Percival | V. R. Price | R C Robertson Glasgow | P E Lawrie | M Patten | R H Bettington | T B Raikes | L. P. Hedges | R R P Barbour’. This is the same eleven which won a match at Oxford against the Free Foresters on 20 May 1922.

[Gladstone and photography: ‘It is a process he particularly dislikes’.] Autograph Letter Signed from his private secretary Spencer Lyttelton [to A.G.L. Rogers, Secry, Liberal Publications Dept], conveying Gladstone's refusal to sit for a portrait.

Author: 
Spencer Lyttelton [George William Spencer Lyttelton] (1847-1913), private secretary to Liberal prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, outstanding cricketer for Cambridge University [A. G. L. Rogers]
Publication details: 
14 October 1893; on letterhead of 10 Downing Street, Whitehall.
£65.00

Lyttelton was Gladstone’s private secretary during three of his terms as prime minister. The recipient Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944, son of the editor of the economist Thorold Rogers) is not named, but the item is from his papers, and was written while he was Secretary of the Liberal Publication Department, a position to which he was appointed in November 1891. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Spencer Lyttleton.’ In good condition, lightly aged and folded for postage.

[Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley, England cricket captain in the first Ashes series against Australia.] 15 manuscript items of banking correspondence between Darnley (8 signed items), his attorneys Wadeson & Malleson (6) and bankers Coutts & Co (1).

Author: 
Ivo Bligh (1859-1927), 8th Earl of Darnley, England cricket captain in the first ever Ashes series against Australia, 1882-3; his attorneys Wadeson & Malleson, London; his bankers Coutts & Co, London
Publication details: 
All items from 1901. The Earl of Darnley, Cobham Hall, Gravesend, Kent; Coutts & Co, 59 Strand, London, WC; Malleson & Co, 7 Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate Without, London, EC.
£420.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The correspondence dates from the year 1901, Bligh having acceded to the earldom on the death of his elder brother Edward on 31 October 1900, and the material consists of what is probably the first set of banking instructions, mainly relating to his ‘accession account’, with recipients of payments ranging from the Dowager Countess to Rochester Golf Club. 10pp, foolscap 8vo; 2pp, 4to; 10pp, 12mo. The fifteen items range in size from foolscap 8vo to 12mo. Four items (letters to Coutts from Wadeson & Malleson) are typed and the rest are in manuscript.

[‘The Ultimate All-Rounder’: C. B. Fry, one of the greatest of English cricketers.] Autograph Signature from Typed Letter written as Honorary Director of the training ship Mercury..

Author: 
C. B. Fry [Charles Burgess Fry] (1872-1956), one of the greatest of English cricketers, sportsman, scholar, journalist
Fry
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00
Fry

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that he has ‘strong claims to be regarded as the greatest sporting all-rounder of his or any era since’. (Neville Cardus counted him ‘among the most fully developed and representative Englishmen of his period’.) It also seems that in 1920 he was offered the chance of becoming king of Albania. His grave at Repton is inscribed: ‘Cricketer, scholar, athlete, Author – The Ultimate All-rounder’.

[Rowland Edmund Prothero [Lord Ernle], author, politician and first-class cricketer.] Two Autograph Letters Signed, as President of the Board of Agriculture, reporting on the wartime situation to the Speaker of the House of Commons [James Lowther].

Author: 
Rowland Edmund Prothero [latterly Lord Ernle] (1851-1937), author, agriculturalist, Conservative politician and first-class cricketer [James Lowther (1855-1940), Speaker of the House of Commons]
Publication details: 
1 July and 5 September 1918. Both on letterhead of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 4 Whitehall Place, S.W.1 [London].
£80.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Both letters 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, but with the first bearing two tape stains. Both folded for postage. Each signed ‘R. E. Prothero’ and addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Speaker’. ONE (1 July 1918): He explains that ‘Agricultural labourers are specially excluded from the category of men to whom the War Office appeal to the V.T.C is addressed’, but that it was ‘only to be expected, as I had pointed out, that the appeal would still be made to them and that they would go in the middle of the harvest season. / The scheme is opposed by the Min.

[Lieut-Col. John Stuart Bligh, 6th Earl Darnley, amateur cricketer.] Autograph Note Signed, giving ‘Mr. F. York’ permission to ‘take some photographic views’ of Cobham Hall, Gravesend. With stamped envelope, addressed in Autograph.

Author: 
Lieut-Col. John Stuart Bligh, 6th Earl of Darnley [formerly Lord Clifton] (1827-1896), amateur cricketer, father of the England captain Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley [F. York, London photographer]
Publication details: 
5 September 1868. On embossed letterhead of Cobham Hall, Gravesend.
£50.00

See his son Ivo Bligh’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Reads: ‘Sir: / You are welcome to take some photographic views of this place: - you will please to ask to see the Houseeeper when you come. / I remain / Yours faithy / Darnley’. In worn envelope, self-stamped with pink penny stamp and two postmarks, one from Gravesend. Addressed in Autograph by Darnley to ‘Mr. F. York / Alfred Villa / Lancaster Road / Notting Hill London W.’

[Lord Roberts [Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar], British Boer War commander.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Roberts.’), sending condolences to ‘Mrs. Tierney’, mentioning his time at 'Mills School' with Tierney and cricketer Alfred Torrens.

Author: 
Lord Roberts [Frederick Sleigh Roberts; Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar, V.C.] (1832-1914), British Army commander during Second Boer War [Alfred Torrens (1831-1903), cricketer]
Publication details: 
18 March 1903; on letterhead of 47 Portland Place, W. [London]
£56.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium, folded once. In good condition. 29 lines of text. He thanks her for her kindness, ‘in the midst of your great sorrow’, in writing to inform the Robertses of her husband’s death. ‘We have often talked of you both, and wondered where you were living.’ He had thought it was ‘somewhere in the valley of the Thames, at least I thought you told me so when last I met you both walking in Regent Street - some 10 years ago’. After a brief comment on Tierney’s ill health, he recalls how ‘He, Alfred Torrens, and I sat next to each other at Mills School.

[Percy Chapman, cricketer] Signature only A.P.F. Chapman underlined. with signature Tennyson. See image

Author: 
A.P.F. Chapman [Arthur Percy Frank Chapman (1900 – 1961), Kent cricketer who captained the England cricket team between 1926 and 1931.
Cricket
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£25.00
Cricket

Page torn from album, 16 x 13cm, one rough edge left, corner clipped left. Tennyson would be a titled descendant of the poet.

[M.A. (Monty) Noble; Australian cricketer] Autograph Note Signed M A Noble to autograph collector, Louis Frewer of Oxford

Author: 
M.A. (Monty) Noble, eminent Australian Cricketer
Publication details: 
[Headed Notepaper] M.A. Noble & F.H. Gee | Manufacturers' Agents || 153 Clarence Street, | Ist Floor | Sydney. 19 Sept. 1933
£100.00

One page, 20 x 17cm, partly spotted and dusted, but text clear and confident: Dear Sir, | Herewith please find said autograph as requested. I feel sure you must be a very keen collector, having sent for it from such a very great distance. However I trust it will prove to be a link in the great chain of mutual goodwill between the Mother Country & Australia.

[Patsy Hendren, prolific and popular Middlesex and England cricketer.] Autograph Signature, on scorecard of Middlesex and Surrey match in which he scored his last century in first-class cricket. With cutting of newspaper report.

Author: 
Patsy Hendren [Elias Henry Hendren] (1889-1962), prolific and popular Middlesex and England cricketer, 1907-1937, whose records include second-highest number of first-class centuries after Jack Hobbs
Publication details: 
Printed scorecard for 'August 28, 30, 1937', i.e. the first two days of a three-day Middlesex v Surrey match at 'Lord's Ground' (MCC). With details of first day (28 August) printed up, and other details completed in manuscript.
£150.00

A very nice item relating to one of the greatest and best-loved of all cricketers: his signature to a scorecard of his final innings in first-class cricket, in which he scored a hundred, accompanied by a newspaper cutting describing the event. Official scorecard with serial number, printed on both sides of a 24 x 12.5 cm piece of card. Priced at twopence, and headed: 'This card does not necessarily include the fall of the last wicket | 2d. Lords [MCC device] Ground | Middlesex v. Surrey | Saturday & Monday, August 28, 30, 1937. (Three-day Match.)'.

[Cecil Wilson, Bishop of Melanesia.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Cecil Wilson, | Bishop'), for publication, 'to the Editor of the Tonbridgian', concerning 'our work in Melanesia'.

Author: 
Cecil Wilson (1860-1941), Anglican cleric and county cricketer (Kent), third Bishop of Melanesia and second Bishop of Bunbury, Western Australia
Publication details: 
3 October 1899; Norfolk Island [Melanesia].
£450.00

5pp, 8vo. On bifolium and single leaf of thin ruled paper. In fair condition, on lightly aged and discoloured paper. Closely written, in a not-entirely legible hand, with the first page having the underlined heading: 'to the Editor of the Tonbridgian'. (The Tonbridgian was the magazine of Tonbridge School, where Wilson was educated, and the letter was presumably published as intended.) The letter begins: 'Dear Sir, | I promised when in England last year that I would send a letter sometimes about our work in Melanesia.

[Patsy Hendren, Middlesex and England cricketer.] Autograph Signature ('E. Patsy. Hendren.') on card in response to request for autograph.

Author: 
Patsy Hendren [Elias Henry Hendren] (1889-1962), noted Middlesex and England cricketer, prolific batsman, friend of Jack Hobbs
Publication details: 
No date or place, but annotated with date '1920'.
£25.00

On 5 x 9 cm card. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse. The only writing on the card is the good firm signature 'E. Patsy. Hendren.', which is underlined twice with two short lines. At bottom right, in pencil, in a tiny hand: '1920'.

[Forbes Winslow, nineteenth-century physician and psychiatrist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Winslow'), postponing a conversation as a result of a tiring visit to a patient in Northamptonshire.

Author: 
Forbes Winslow [Forbes Benignus Winslow] (1810-1874), nineteenth-century physician, psychiatrist, author and authority on lunacy
Publication details: 
Bushey, Hertfordshire. 'Sat.' [no date]
£125.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with evidence of mount on reverse of second leaf, which is endorsed 'Dr. Forbes Winslow'. Two central folds, one vertical and one horizontal. The male recipient is unnamed. He is 'quite unfit to go up to London to-day', 'owing to the fatigue I underwent yesterday travelling a long distance into Northamptonshire to see a patient'.

[ Cholera; Charles Greville, celebrated diarist and first-class cricketer. ] Autograph Signature ('C Greville') to part of letter.

Author: 
Charles Greville [ Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville ] (1794-1865), English diarist ('The Greville Memoirs') and first-class cricketer
Publication details: 
No place. 28 November 1831.
£150.00

The Greville Memoirs caused an uproar on its publication in 1874. Queen Victoria described it as a 'dreadful and really scandalous book' which should be 'severely censored and discredited'. Disraeli characterised its author as 'the vainest being—I don't limit myself to man—that ever existed; and I don't forget Cicero and Lytton Bulwer […] when he was not scandalous, he was prolix and prosy—a clumsy, wordy writer […] a more verbose, indefinite, unwieldy affair, without a happy expression, never issued from the pen of a fagged subordinate of the daily press'.

[ Edwyn Anthony, proprietor of the 'Hereford Times', author, inventor and chess player. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Richard Harington, asking for his legal opinion on behalf of the Weights and Measures Committee of Herefordshire County Council.

Author: 
Edwyn Anthony (1843-1932), proprietor of the 'Hereford Times', author, inventor, mathematician and chess player [ Sir Richard Harington (1861-1931) of Whitbourne Court, Worcestershire ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Westood, Hereford. [ Received 25 June 1902. ]
£120.00

7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums. In good condition. A long and detailed letter, asking, '[i]n accordance with a resolution of the Wts. & Measures Committee', for Harington's opinion on a point of law, in relation to the charging of fees by inspectors, with reference to 'the provisions of the Acts of 1878 and 1889' and the 'decision in Rex v. Roberts'. Towards the conclusion Anthony states: 'The Wts.

[ A. J. Webbe, England cricketer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('A J Webbe.') to 'My dear Crawfurd' [ the Irish cricketer John Crawfurd ], regarding rain at Lord's, an exciting match, and 'all the trouble' Crawfurd has had.

Author: 
A. J. Webbe [ Alexander Josiah Webbe ] (1855-1941), English test cricketer and Middlesex captain [ John Crawfurd [ John William Frederick Arthur Crawfurd ] (1878-1939), Irish cricketer ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 35 Eaton Square, S.W. [ London ] 16 July 1909.
£120.00

2pp., 16mo. In good condition. He is 'due at Woolwich the moment the rain stops as we have a day's match there today & tomorrow, but I don't suppose that you will be at Lords the ground must be under water.' He 'couldn't come out of the boys' room on Friday, the cricket was too exciting for words & it was cruel that we could not win'.

[ C. Aubrey Smith, Hollywood actor and test cricketer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('C. Aubrey . . S.') to 'George'

Author: 
C. Aubrey Smith [ Sir Charles Aubrey Smith ] (1863-1948), English stage and film actor and test cricketer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'The Round Corner', 2881 Coldwater Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills. 22 July 1943.
£35.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He thanks him for thinking of his birthday, and taking the trouble 'to bring me that sherry'. He has not yet sampled it, as 'it's a bit too hot for anything but water, just at present'. He will telephone him, as he doesn't 'feel cocksure' about his address. He ends with regards to 'Mrs George'. In pencil in another hand at head: 'Here it is, George | C.A.S.'

[ Richie Benaud, Australian cricket captain and broadcaster.] Typed Letter Signed ('Richie Benaud') to Ffiona Roberts of Nottingham, giving his opinion of the best cricketers, and the 'biggest influence on my cricket career'.

Author: 
Richie Benaud (1930-2015), Australian cricket captain and broadcaster
Publication details: 
On his letterhead , 'Richie Benaud OBE | PO Box 30535 | London SW16 5FG'. 5 August 2003.
£45.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly creased. Although it is 'always difficult to nominate the best of anything' he would say that Bradman was the best batsman, Sobers the best allrounder and Warne the best legspinner. 'All the others would be "one of the best."' His biggest influence was his father, 'an outstanding club cricketer in Sydney, and then, when I played first class cricket, Keith Miller, Arthur Morris and Ray Lindwall'. His hobbies are 'work and golf'.

Autograph Letter Signed from the Victorian educationist and penal reformer Mary Carpenter to the cricketer William Henry Benthall, private secretary to Sir Stafford Northcote, confirming an appointment.

Author: 
Mary Carpenter (1807-1877), English educationist and penal reformer [William Henry Benthall (1837-1909), cricketer and private secretary to Sir Stafford Northcote (1818-1887), Conservative politician]
Publication details: 
Red Lodge House, Bristol. 15 October 1867.
£60.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. She states that she will be 'happy to wait on Sir Stafford Northcote at 4 oclock on Wednesday the 30th instant as you mention'. Docketed by Benthall on reverse of second leaf of bifolium, 'Miss Carpenter | Oct: 15. 1867. | Will wait on you on Oct: 30. at 4 o'clock'. Benthall was described in Wisden as batting 'in an exceedingly pretty style, cutting beautifully to the off, and has made some capital scores in the best matches'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('C. R. Aldrich') from the philatelist and cricketer Charles Roper Aldrich of Huyton, to an unnamed female correspondent, regarding a possible exchange of African stamps with the Indian ones of 'Mrs. Dighton'.

Author: 
Charles Roper Aldrich (1935), philatelist and cricketer, of Park House, Huyton, near Liverpool [Mrs Dighton; stamp collecting]
Publication details: 
Park House, Huyton, near Liverpool. 26 November 1895.
£150.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Fair, on aged and chipped paper. As 'Mails for India leave at the end of the week', he considers the letter to be more convenient for her to forward. What attracted his attention to 'Mrs. Dighton's advertisement was the mention of African Stamps which she wished to obtain in exchange for those of Travancore'. He describes his own interests: 'I am especially strong in African Stamps having much correspondence from the West Coast'. He lists sets he would be willing to send to Mrs Dighton 'in exchange for 3 or 4 full sets of Navancore'.

Autograph Note Signed ('Hawke') informing Barnes of his selection for England.

Author: 
Martin Bladen Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke [Lord Hawke] (1860-1938), Yorkshire and England Cricketer, and President of the MCC [S.F. Barnes Sydney Francis Barnes] (1873-1967), England cricketer]
Publication details: 
20 June [no year]; on letterhead of 107 Jermyn Street, S.W.
£450.00

12mo, 1 p. Bifolium. On aged and foxed grey paper. Reads 'June 20th | Dear Barnes | Selection Committee will be pleased if you will play for England v The Rest at Lords 29th. | Yours faithfull | [signed] Hawke'. Hawke was an England selector between 1899 and 1909, and Barnes, one of the finest bowlers in English history, made his international debut in 1901. I'm sure someone will tell me if this was Barnes's first game for England.

Autograph Note Signed ('J B. Hobbs') and Initialled ('JBH') to Peter Briggs.

Author: 
Sir Jack Hobbs [Sir John Berry Hobbs] (1882-1963), Surrey and England cricketer
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£45.00

On a piece of yellow paper (roughly 7.5 x 10 cm), laid down on a light-green page (roughly 14 x 8 cm) torn from an autograph album. Lightly aged and spotted, but good overall. Reads ' "Remember that if you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper. When you are in the wrong you can't afford to lose it" | [signed] J B. Hobbs.' And in a smaller hand, diagonally in the bottom right-hand corner 'Best wishes to Peter Briggs | [signed] JBH'.

Part of an Autograph Letter Signed "Pelham F. Warner" to an unknown correspondent.

Author: 
Pelham Warner, cricketer and writer on cricket.
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£28.00

Piece cut from letter, c.3.5 x 2",, good condition. Surviving text as follows: "into something entirely to what he had lead [sic] me to expect, to take up which I would certainly not have left my land .......[excised] ....[overleaf] worrying you./ I am/ yrs tly/ Pelham F. Warner."

Autograph Signature ('J B. Hobbs.').

Author: 
Jack Hobbs [Sir John Berry Hobbs, 1882-1963], English cricketer
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£18.00

On piece of paper roughly 2.5 x 5 cm. Laid down on leaf of cream paper, 8.5 x 12 cm, from an autograph album. In slightly faded blue ink, and with a crease to the bottom left-hand corner, affecting the lower loop of the 'J'.

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