Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia

‘Les Jeux Des Jeunes Garcons, representes par Vingt-Quatre Estampes Accompagnes De L’Explication Detaillee des Regles, D’Anecdotes Historiques...’. ‘Quatrieme [fourth] edition, published in Paris at ‘Chez Nepveu, Libraire, Passage des Panoramas, No. 26’, c.1820. 114pp, illustrated throughout, complete with twenty four full page engravings from original drawings by Xavier Leprince of boys playing games of the period, with accompanying text in French describing the history and rules of the games with anecdotes and poems. Chapter XXIV, pp78-81, is dedicated to ‘Le Criquet [cricket]’, and Chapter XXVIII comprises an early reference to ‘La Balle Empoisonnee [the poisoned ball]’, a game similar to baseball. Other games featured include ‘Le Volant [shuttlecock]’, ‘La Boule [bowls]’, ‘Les Quilles [skittles]’, ‘Le Cocochet [piggy back]’ etc. Roughly translated, the cricket section states ‘This game is little known in France; it is played in some provinces where it is called ‘la Crosse’’. It points out similarities to the game ‘Mail’, known in English as ‘Pall Mall’ named after the area of London where it was played. ‘La Crosse’ was first translated as ‘cricket’ in Cotgrave’s ‘Dictionary of the French and English Tongues’ of 1611. The text continues with a basic description of the game, based on an 18th century version with the wicket being called a ‘but’ or goal comprising two stones approximately one foot apart. The player, armed with a ‘crosse ou baton recourbe [curved bat]’ attempts to hit the ball, then runs to another goal which he hits with the bat before returning to his own goal. The accompanying facing plate depicts three boys playing the game in a country setting with a windmill in the background, two boys are holding curved bats similar to hockey sticks, one in batting stance, the third is about to deliver the ball. The book is preserved in original stiffened card wrappers with some wear and soiling to boards. Internally in remarkably good condition for its age. Not recorded in Padwick. All editions of this early French title with references to cricket are rare.