Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
29th, 30th November & 1st December 2024
Lot 338
Estimate: £200/300
Kingsmill James Key. Surrey & Oxford University 1892-1904. ‘Record Partnership Bat 1887’. A Gradidge ‘Imperial Driver’ cricket bat used by Key when scoring 281 runs in a record stand with Hylton Philipson of 340 runs for the seventh wicket for Oxford University in their first innings against Middlesex at Chiswick on 23rd-25th June 1887. This was the highest first class score recorded The bat signed to the shoulder of the bat K.J. Key. The bat came from the family by descent and the bat and a ball from the match were sold in one lot at auction and described as being used in the match. The ball was banded and engraved as having been used in this match. Sold with the late vendors research notes giving further information on the bat
Middlesex entertained Oxford at Chiswick Park in June 1887 and at lunch on the first day, Oxford were 86-5. At 104 for 6 Hylton joined Key and they added 340 runs together and the University finished their innings on 555 all out. Middlesex were bowled in cheaply and followed on with the eventual result being Oxford won by an innings and 229 runs.
Kingsmill Key was identified as a fine all-round cricketer whilst at Clifton College, moving onto Oxford in 1883 where he obtained his blue. He played his first match for Surrey at the age of 17. Key was a middle order batsman and slow off break bowler who played for Surrey from 1882-1904, he captained the side from 1894 to 1899 with considerable success, winning the County Championship in that six year period on three occasions (1894, 1895 & 1899, finishing 2nd once and 4th in the other two seasons. He is quoted as a ‘A man of most original views, an always philosophic cricketer and an imperturbable captain’. His highest score was 281 for Oxford University v Middlesex in 1887. He went on Sanders tour of North America in 1886, Hawke’s tour of North America in 1891 and Oxford University Authentics tour of India 1902/03. A noted rugby player, he gained his blue at Oxford. He died in August 1932, at the age of 67, from poisoning after an insect bite
Kingsmill Key was identified as a fine all-round cricketer whilst at Clifton College, moving onto Oxford in 1883 where he obtained his blue. He played his first match for Surrey at the age of 17. Key was a middle order batsman and slow off break bowler who played for Surrey from 1882-1904, he captained the side from 1894 to 1899 with considerable success, winning the County Championship in that six year period on three occasions (1894, 1895 & 1899, finishing 2nd once and 4th in the other two seasons. He is quoted as a ‘A man of most original views, an always philosophic cricketer and an imperturbable captain’. His highest score was 281 for Oxford University v Middlesex in 1887. He went on Sanders tour of North America in 1886, Hawke’s tour of North America in 1891 and Oxford University Authentics tour of India 1902/03. A noted rugby player, he gained his blue at Oxford. He died in August 1932, at the age of 67, from poisoning after an insect bite