Catalogue for the auction of
Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks
and Cricket Books
Held on Saturday & Sunday
14th & 15th September 2024
Lot 529
Estimate: £500/800
Hammer: £850
‘Feats, Facts, and Figures of 1899’. F.S. Ashley-Cooper. Published for private circulation by Merritt & Hatcher, London 1899. First year of issue, of which only twenty copies were produced. 51pp. Original pale blue paper wrappers. Presentation copy with inscription in ink in Ashley-Cooper’s own hand to ‘C.W. Alcock Esq., 20 November. 1899. Copy no. 2’. Some age toning to wrappers, closed tear to front cover, neatly rebacked otherwise in good original condition. Presented in a blue board box with silver titles to spine. Padwick 920. Very rare. Previously sold as lot 21 in Christie’s sale of May 2006
This was the first in a series of limited edition booklets compiled by Ashley-Cooper, issued between 1899 and 1906, comprising articles first serialised in ‘Cricket’ magazine, 27th September to 21st December 1899. Notable records in the English cricket season of 1899 include nine centuries by C.L. Townsend and eight by K.S. Ranjitsinhji, Victor Trumper of Australia being one of thirteen batsmen to score over 200 in an innings, Bland of Sussex and Howell for Australia both taking all ten wickets in an innings
Charles William Alcock was instrumental in the instigation of the F.A. Cup and was a member of the Wanderers football team that won the first F.A. Cup Final in 1872, played at The Oval where he had recently been appointed as Secretary of Surrey C.C.C. He also founded and edited James Lillywhite’s Cricketers’ Annual from 1872 to 1900.
Charles William Alcock was instrumental in the instigation of the F.A. Cup and was a member of the Wanderers football team that won the first F.A. Cup Final in 1872, played at The Oval where he had recently been appointed as Secretary of Surrey C.C.C. He also founded and edited James Lillywhite’s Cricketers’ Annual from 1872 to 1900.