Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026

Lord Sheffield 1896. Rare single page folding letter handwritten in ink from Lord Sheffield to the Sussex cricket historian, Alfred J. Gaston. Dated 21st May 1896, and written at Sheffield Park, Lord Sheffield writes ‘The volume of the “Biographies” reached me safely—and I am exceedingly obliged to you for so kindly and promptly ordering it to be sent to me. I am afraid I cannot say that the “notice” of myself is satisfactory- or even correct- in matters of fact’. Nicely signed to the inside page ‘Sheffield’. Some wear and small loss to centre fold, otherwise in good/ very good condition.
A significant patron of cricket, Lord Sheffield established a private ground at his seat at Sheffield Park in Sussex, and there hosted numerous first-class matches and touring sides. Concerned with the declining popularity of cricket in Australia, Lord Sheffield organised at his own expense the 1891/92 tour under the captaincy of W.G. Grace, comprising Stoddart, Shrewsbury, W. Gunn, Attewell, Lockwood, Briggs, Peel etc. While in Australia he donated £150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association, which led to the inauguration of the Sheffield Shield Australian domestic state cricket competition. He served as President of Sussex C.C.C. on numerous occasions. Alfred James Gaston, cricket follower, writer and collector, published numerous books on cricket from 1886 to 1923, on Sussex cricket and biographies of Sussex players of the period.

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