Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

International Cricket at Mitcham Green 1876. An extremely rare hand coloured original printed Broadside of a verse in twenty four-line stanzas by the well known cricket author, ‘F.G.’ (Frederick Gale). The poem describes the news that James Lillywhite’s England team had lost by two wickets to the New South Wales team at the Albert Cricket Ground, Sydney, 11th December 1876, in the second match of the tour. Above the poem is a large imaginary scene drawn by Cyril Hallward of a single wicket cricket match being played out by an English lion and Australian kangaroo, with assorted animal spectators looking on. In the background is ‘The Cricketers’ public house, also known as Southerton’s Inn after James Southerton who was away with the English team. The title below reads ‘A London daily paper having prophesied the downfall of English sports owing to a reverse at Sydney, the British lion who is keeping Southerton’s Inn, “The Cricketers” at Mitcham, plays a single wicket match with the Australian kangaroo on Mitcham Green’. The Broadside, originally published 15th December 1876 priced at one shilling, was sold ‘For the benefit of John Bowyer, the veteran cricketer’. The colour wash has been added at a later date by an unknown hand. 15”x16”. Minor water staining to lower edge, small 2” tear to top right corner, otherwise in very good condition.