Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10th, 11th & 12th April 2026
Lot 976
Estimate: £3000/5000
Hammer: unsold
Ivo Bligh’s England tour to Australia ‘The Birth of the Ashes’ 1882/1883. Early large original sepia studio photograph of the team depicted seated and standing in rows wearing cricket attire. The players featured are Bligh (Captain), Leslie, Tylecote, Studd, Morley, Moone, Vernon, Studd, Read, Barlow, Barnes, Bates and Steel. The photograph by Tuttle & Co. of Melbourne measures 13.5”x10”, laid to official photographer’s mount, overall 15.75”x11”. The photograph faded but legible. Very good condition. An extremely rare example from this seminal early tour.
The England Captain Ivo Bligh pledged to bring back ‘The Ashes of English Cricket’, following the obituary which had been published when Australia defeated England at The Oval during the 1882 English season. In the third and deciding 3rd Test played at Sydney, England batted first making 347 all out in reply, Australia made 218. In England’s second innings they made 123 with Spofforth taking 7-44. Barlow (7 wickets) and England then proceeded to bowl the Australians out for 83 winning the Test by 69 runs and the Ashes. After the tourists had won this game and thus the series of three matches by two to one, some ladies burnt the bails used in the match and placed the ‘Ashes’ in a small urn and presented it to the victorious captain of the English team Ivo Bligh, to represent winning back the ‘ashes of English cricket’. The urn, together with its embroidered velvet bag, is housed in the Memorial Gallery at Lord’s.