Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
21st, 22nd & 23rd March 2025
Lot 865
Estimate: £30/50
Hammer: £30
‘A Century of Philadelphia Cricket ‘. Edited by J.A. Lester, Philadelphia 1951. Original blue cloth with nice gilt title to spine. Presentation copy with lengthy dedication in ink ‘To Harold Edwards, Harvard Cricketer’ signed by one of the contributors to the book, ‘from C. Christopher Morris of Philadelphia. In loving memory of J. Henry Scattergood, Harvard Cricket XI 1897 [and] JHS’s brother Alfred G. Scattergood, Harvard Cricket XI 1899’. The title was ‘Dedicated to the memory of the Newhalls who established cricket in Philadelphia’. Padwick 4086. Sold with ‘The International Series. The Story of the United States v Canada at Cricket’, John I. Marder, London 1968, with good dustwrapper. Both titles with bookplate of the sports journalist and author, Gordon Ross. Very good condition. Qty 2.
The Newall family was instrumental in establishing cricket in Philadelphia in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Brothers Walter and Charles Newhall, both being under sixteen years of age and therefore ineligible to join their local club, Germantown C.C., organised their own team, the Young America Cricket Club, in 1855. The two clubs later merged in 1890. Bob Newhall, described by ‘American Cricketer’ as ‘the premier batsman of America’ captained the Philadelphians on their inaugural tour to England in 1884, and the second tour of 1889 was led by his brother, Dan Newhall. Percy Clark and John Lester were members of the third Philadelphian team to tour England, in 1897, as was J.H. Scattergood who joined the tour as a late replacement.