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

‘Songs of the Cricket Field and Other Verses’. Francis Colgate Benson. Published for the author by The James Clark Press, Philadelphia 1932. The book, with an interesting provenance, is inscribed in ink to the second front endpaper ‘To my good friend Fred Mallinson Christmas 1932 with all good wishes from Colgate Benson’ and, below, ‘Given to Jim Hole 1951 [by] Fanny Mallinson for Fred’. Opposite is the bookplate of W.J. Hole. Ink annotation to the reverse of the second front endpaper ‘To G. Neville Weston, Esq., Kidderminster, England. My thanks for a very happy day July 5th 1959’. Tipped in to the book by Weston is a picture of Benson and an original order of service for the annual Frank C. Benson memorial service, Hampshire State 1959 (Hole was a patron of the state of New Hampshire). Many poems throughout are annotated in ink by Hole commenting on the background to the cricket and clubs including Ardmore C.C. To the inside front cover is an additional bookplate of A.E. Winder who bought this copy from Ted Brown, who handled the disposal of much of Weston’s collection, in 1973. Bound in original dark green full morocco, gilt title to front. Padwick 6412. Odd old crude tape repairs to tipped in pages, rubbing to covers, otherwise in good condition. A unique copy of a scare American publication.