The largest auction of cricket memorabilia ever held in Australia will be conducted in Melbourne by Charles Leski Auctions over two nights in December.
The presale estimate of $950,000 eclipses the previous record set in 1997 when Christie’s sold the Ramamurthy Collection for around $500,000.
The auction took a year to assemble with over 1,000 lots being sourced from every cricketing nation. It includes memorabilia dating from the 1820s to the present day covering every type of cricket played from Ashes and Test cricket to One Day Internationals and World Series Cricket, the rebel tours of South Africa and exhibition matches played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in the 1860s.
The first auction (December 6th) will be given to ‘The History of The Ashes’ with lots dating back to the 1870s and will include the collections of Keith Miller and Paul Reiffel.
The second auction (December 7th) will cover every decade from the 1820s onwards and include lots never before been seen in the public domain. Some are so rare that the auction house is expecting spirited bidding from overseas buyers.
| - Keith Miller 1956 ‘baggy green’ cap. [$20,000 - $30,000]
|
| - Rare Victor Trumper bat c.1907 with ‘VT’ etched on reverse. [$25,000 - $50,000]
|
| - Douglas Jardine’s 1930s Test cap - Jardine was the architect of the "Bodyline" tactic. [$20,000 - $25,000]
|
| - Don Bradman’s 1930 ‘double century’ bat. [$60,000 - $80,000]
|
| - "Baggy greens" belonging to Ian Chappell [$12,000 - $15,000]; Doug Walters [$8,000 - $12,000]; Lindsay Hassett [$12,000 - $15,000]; Neil Harvey [$4,000 - $6,000]
|
|
| - Unique Gray-Nicolls Cricket Bat Survey which was used to design the next generation of cricket bats, signed by many of the world’s top batsmen including Don Bradman, Geoff Boycott, Gubby Allen and Asif Iqbal [$30,000 - $50,000]
|
|
| - Shane Warne’s 300th Test Wicket, framed display including signature, photograph and list of his victims. [$100 - $150]
|
| - Paul Reiffel collection from 1993 Ashes Tour including Australian sleeveless Test jumper, Test shirt, signed action photograph and certificate. [$500 - $750]
|
|
| - Very rare 1896 oversize Hawkins cabinet card signed by W.G. Grace. [$6,000 - $7,000]
|
|
| - Two rare ‘Players Guest’ tickets for the 1987 World Cup final, Australia v England, at Eden Gardens Calcutta. One signed by the Australian team (including Allan Border, David Boon & Steve Waugh), the other signed by England team including Mike Gatting, Bill Athey & Tim Robinson. Australian won by 7 runs. [$300 - $400]
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
