Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

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

William Russell Endean. Transvaal & South Africa 1945-1964. Single page handwritten letter in ink on ‘S.A. Cricket Touring Team Great Britain 1955’ letterhead. Dated 20th July [1955] on the eve of the 4th Test against England at Headingley, Endean is replying to an admirer, ‘Dear Mollie’, thanking her for her good wishes ‘and all the good luck your champagne cork can bring me!’ and also returns signed photographs. He closes saying ‘Thanks for wishing me a hundred tomorrow- I should love to oblige you’. Nicely signed, ‘Russell Endean’. Light folds. Good condition.
The lucky champagne cork clearly worked. Endean scored 41 and 116no, helping South Africa to victory by 224 runs and level the series 2-2. England went on to win the deciding Test to take the series 3-2.

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