Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026
Lot 1589
Estimate: £70/100
‘Arlott & Ackroyd: A celebration of cricket, wine, poetry and place’. With a commentary by David Rayvern Allen. Published in 2002 by Christopher Saunders, Newnham on Severn. Leather bound limited edition number 18 of 295 books produced, signed by Norman Ackroyd and David Rayvern Allen to limitation label to inside front board. In the pocket at the front of the book is an accompanying signed and numbered etching of a portrait of Arlott by Ackroyd, together with an unsigned reproduction of the same etching. Slipped in is small eight page booklet of a transcript of the speech given by Mike Brearley at The Fine Art Society on the occasion of the launch of this title. All contained in a cream cloth slipcase. Very good condition.
John Arlott was the best loved cricket commentator of the 20th century, but he was also a renowned collector and lover of books, wine, poetry and prints. Norman Ackroyd (RA) is Britain’s best known etcher. He is also a lover of wine and poetry and an enthusiastic cricketer. This book matches eleven of Ackroyd’s etchings with appropriate pieces of Arlott’s prose and poetry. It has a commentary by David Rayvern Allen, old friend of Norman Ackroyd and Arlott’s acclaimed biographer.