Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
21st, 22nd & 23rd March 2025
Lot 2
Estimate: £300/500
‘The Australian Cricket Team’ 1878. Very rare and early large cotton handkerchief commemorating Australia’s inaugural first-class tour to England. Lithographed in grey, the centre panel set in elaborate frame depicts the twelve members of the Australian touring party seated and standing, with names printed below. Players are W.L. Murdoch (Captain), T. Horan, F. Allan, G.H. Bailey, J. Conway, A. Bannerman, C. Bannerman, J. Blackham, F.R. Spofforth, D.W. Gregory, W. Midwinter, T.W. Garrett and H.F. Boyle. To each of the four corners is an oval cartouche panel of four of the players in batting or bowling pose featuring Spofforth, Blackham, Murdoch and C. Bannerman. The ornate title scroll below the centre panel comprises an Australian coat of arms, crossed bats and ‘Registered Sept. 1878’. Measuring 23”x24”, the handkerchief is fully laid down to mount card and in very good condition. A very rare and early item of cricketing history.
Following the Australian Aboriginals’ tour of 1868, this was the first tour to England undertaken by an Australian team with first-class status. The team departed from Sydney on 29th March 1878 and voyaged via New Zealand and Honolulu, crossed America by train to New York and arrived at Liverpool on 13th May. Although no Test matches were played, following a heavy innings defeat by an innings against Nottinghamshire, in their second tour match they defeated M.C.C. at Lord’s, W.G. Grace being dismissed second ball in each innings for scores of 4 and 0.