Grace letters lead way in impressive cricket finds
ENGLAND may have lost the Ashes but when it comes to uncovering cricket treasures we’re undisputed champions of the world. A very special January sale is poised to bowl over sports fans.
The Cricket and Boxing Memorabilia Auction is awash with impressive finds and rare memorabilia from some of the greatest names in the game, including a man regarded as the father of cricket, WG Grace, and his brother, Edward. The sale includes letters from them penned more than 120 years ago. Found in a farmhouse, in the top drawer of a George III mahogany tallboy, the correspondence dates back to the late 1800s.
Three letters from William Gilbert Grace (1848-1915), one of the greatest players of all time, could sell for more than £1,200.
The outstanding all-rounder helped to develop the sport across the world and is said to have invented modern batsmanship.
Meanwhile, two letters signed by his brother, EM Grace (1841-1911), a fellow English first-class cricketer, have a £300-£400 estimate.
But there’s more. Bidders can browse the cricketing archive of Derek Shackleton (1924-2007), a renowned Hampshire and England bowler in the 1950s and 60s.
Numerous photos, mementos and cricket attire, including his MCC touring blazer, had been gathering dust in a family wardrobe for years. Derek took more than 100 wickets in 20 consecutive seasons of first-class cricket and played in seven Tests for England.
Another find to take our breath away was discovered in a spiderfilled garage. After losing their mum at the age of 92 in 2021, retired civil servants Nicky Lane, 69, and sister Karen Douglas, 68, had to clear her house. But they left the garage until last because they knew it was full of spiders!
When they finally plucked up courage to tackle its dark corners, sporting treasures lost for decades emerged. An old suitcase tucked away at the back was packed with memorabilia relating to legendary former England and Essex cricketer Johnny Douglas (JWHT Douglas, 1882-1930).
And there was more. A box stashed behind the meter cupboard held what could be the most valuable item of all – a silver tankard from 1860 awarded to iconic English bareknuckle prize fighter Tom Sayers (1826-1865), estimate £3,000-£5,000.
The finds flabbergasted antiques experts and auctioneers Richard Madley and Charlie Ross, who were invited to assess the memorabilia.
Both huge cricket fans – and great friends of mine – they were blown away by items which hadn’t seen the light of day for decades.
Some lots, such as groups of cricket photos from long ago, have relatively modest guide prices starting from £40. But for the sellers, this isn’t about the money. They want these items to go to sports fans who will treasure and enjoy them.
The collection comes to the sisters through family descent.
They are granddaughters of Johnny Douglas’s brother, Cecil
“Pickles” Douglas, a renowned and respected boxing referee. Johnny died at sea, aged 48, off the coast of Denmark just before Christmas trying to save the life of his father, JH Douglas. They were on a ship rammed by another vessel in fog when their captains, who were brothers, tried to exchange festive greetings.
Collections like this do not come to auction often. Douglas was a phenomenal character, an allrounder who played for Essex from 1911 to 1928.
He also captained the England team before and after the First World War. An untiring fast bowler and an obdurate batsman, he had the rare distinction of winning a gold medal at the London Olympic Games in 1908 – for boxing!
The boxing connection may help to explain the Sayers find. The silver tankard, given to Sayers by “admirers of English pluck” from Montreal in Canada, was right at the bottom of the box.
Sayers is revered. Born in Brighton in 1826, he was like the Muhammad Ali of this day. In a career which lasted from 1849 until 1860, he lost only one of 16 bouts.
He was recognised as heavyweight champion of England from 1857 until his retirement in 1860. He was a national hero, so much so, £3,000 was raised from the public for his retirement.
Other highlights include a 1921 photo of Douglas being presented to King George V, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York at Lord’s. This could be unique in that it shows three British monarchs in one place at one time. Signed photos of the England cricket team in South Africa and the Australian team in 1921 have also been uncovered.
The Cricket and Boxing Memorabilia Auction will be held on January 22. Catalogue www. hansonslive.co.uk. To arrange a free sports memorabilia valuation, email David Wilson-Turner: dwilsonturner@hansonsauctioneers. co.uk.
Antiques expert Richard Madley with the silver tankard presented to English bare-knuckle fighter Tom Sayers in 1860. Found at the back of a garage, it could sell for thousands
Letters written by the ‘father of cricket’ WG Grace, below, dating back to the 1800s could sell for more than £1,000 at auction later this month
Johnny Douglas is a former England captain