Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026
Lot 297
Estimate: £400/600
‘Lillywhite’s Team to Australia 1876/77’. ‘The First Test Match’. Very early sepia cabinet card photograph of Lillywhite’s touring party to Australia, standing and sitting in three rows, wearing a variety of blazers and caps. The players are Harry Jupp, Tom Emmett, R Humphrey, Allen Hill, Tom Armitage, George Ulyett, Ted Pooley, James Southerton, James Lillywhite (captain), Alfred Shaw, Andrew Greenwood, Henry Charlwood and John Selby. The cabinet card taken at Priory Park, Chichester, a few days before they sailed to Australia on 21st September 1876. Published by Jas Russell & Sons of Chichester. A large printed advertisement for Jas Russell & Sons to verso. Some wear, light creasing cracking to image with small loss to top of image, also minor wear to photographer’s title at border otherwise in good condition. The image includes all of the players who played in the first ever Test match. An excellent image and a scarce cabinet card photograph
James Lillywhite of Sussex sailed, with eleven other professionals, from Southampton on the P&O steamship Poonah in September 187. They played teams in Australia and New Zealand before returning to Melbourne to play a combined Australian team on even terms, 11 a side. The match played on the 15th March 1877 became regarded as the first Test match