Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026
Lot 1736
Estimate: £50/70
‘The Secret History of the Coningham Case. Copiously Illustrated with Facsimiles of Documents etc.’ by ‘Zero’. Printed by Finn Brothers, Sydney 1901. xvii, 360pp. Original pictorial stiffened card covers. A true-crime book detailing the scandalous divorce and defamation trial involving the Australian Test cricketer, Arthur Coningham (New South Wales, Queensland & Australia 1892-1899). No cricket content, but of biographical interest, illustrated with photographic facsimiles of the documents in the case and many others not produced in court. Padwick 7446-3. Heavy soiling to boards, wear and some loss to spine, breaking to internal hinges, internally in good condition.
Arthur Coningham was Queensland’s first Test cricketer, making one Test appearance for Australia. He holds the distinction of being the first bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, dismissing England’s A.C. MacLaren with the first ball of the 2nd Test at Melbourne in 1894.