173. W.G. Grace cast iron door stop; 23mm tall.���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$100–150 174. MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB, membership badges, made by K.G.Luke, for 1940-41, 1942-43, 1945-46, 1947-48, 1948-49 and 1949-50, together with the Country members badges for 1945-46 (No.C784) and for 1947-48 (No.C1292). (8).������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $300–500 175. MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB, 1941-42 membership badge by K.G.Luke, (No.475) and the Country member’s badge (No.1260). (2).������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $150–200 176. MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB, membership badges, made by K.G.Luke, for 1941-42 (No.3297) and for Country members (No.1022), 1945-46 (No.2608) and for Country members (No.C1003), 1946-47 (No.2594) and for Country members (No.C933) and 1947-48 (No.3232) and for Country members (No.C510). (8).������������������������������������������������������������ $400–600 177. MELBOURNE CRICKET CLUB, membership badges, made by K.G.Luke, for 1942-43, 1946-47 , 1948-49 and 1949-50. (4).������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $150–200 178. ‘Melbourne Cricket Club, Annual Report, For the Season 1942-43.’ [Melbourne; Mason, Firth & M’Cutcheon, 1943] 28pp, with original blue covers. A very slender war-time edition in which several mentions are made of the fact that activities and income have been severely curtailed because of “the occupation of the Ground by the Crown” . “CLUB AND THE WAR.- The Club is proud of the fact that 2,146 of its Members are in the Fighting Forces. In addition many others are engaged in full time war duties. ” (p.6) After the outbreak of war in the Pacific, the Commonwealth Government requisitioned the MCG for military purposes. From 1942 until 1945 it was progressively occupied by the US Army Air Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, the US Marine Corps and again the RAAF . More than 200,000 personnel regarded the ground as their home away from home during that period. Most famously in 1943 the MCG was home to the legendary First Regiment of the First Division of the United States Marine Corp. The First Marine Corp were the heroes of the battle of Guadalcanal (later Okinawa) and used the “cricket grounds” , as the marines referred to it, to rest and recuperate. In 1942 and 1943, Melburnians en masse proved wonderful hosts to the soldiers and marines. Melbourne was described as the “best liberty port in the world. ” Hundreds of servicemen were taken into Melburnians’ homes and softball and gridiron matches were played on the MCG.����� $200–300 179. ‘Melbourne Cricket Club, Annual Report, For the Season 1943-44.’ [Melbourne; Mason, Firth & M’Cutcheon, 1944] 28pp, with original light grey covers (discoloured). A very slender war-time edition in which several mentions are made of the fact that activities and income have been severely curtailed because of “the occupation of the Ground by the Crown” .����$200–300 180. AUSTRALIAN TEST CRICKETER AUTOGRAPHS: A lovely collection of autographed displays in an album; one autograph per page and including George Tribe (1 Test), Gil Langley (26 Tests), Ken Archer (5 Tests), Ron Gaunt (3 Tests), Bob Cowper (27 Tests), Ian Davis (15 Tests), David Hookes (23 Tests), Mick Malone (1 Test), Peter Sleep (14 Tests), Shaun Young (1 Test), Lindsay Kline (13 Tests) and plenty more. [Total: 52].������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ $300–500 181 181. “AUSTRALIAN IX’S ENGLISH TOUR Proceeding by P . & O. R.M.S. “STRATHAIRD” 22,500 TONS” A souvenir booklet prepared by P . & O. for distribution to the passengers on board the ship which was taking the Australian Team to England. The booklet contains the cruise itinerary, departing Sydney on 10th March and arriving at London 16th April, 1948 and includes details of the ship’s crew, the cricket team’s fixtures in England and Scotland, the team list and a page devoted to each team member together with a photograph. The lucky owner of this example has also been able to secure the original signatures of the whole team, the team manager as well as Bill O’Reilly (who played in 27 Tests between 1932 and 1946) and Ray Robinson (who had played in 1 Test in 1936), who were travelling on the same ship. A superb example of these popular souvenirs of the team that became “The Invincibles” .����������������������������������� $750–1,000 31