Submitted by aarAdmin on Tue, 09/26/2023 - 00:00
Three cricket stumps from the 1932-33 Ashes Bodyline series (lot 110) quadrupled their catalogue estimate to be knocked down for $20,000 at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions sporting memorabilia sale on September 22 and 23.
Souvenired by team members, the stumps are attractively displayed in a timber and glass custom-built presentation case.
Signed by members of the English team, the central stump bears a gold plaque engraved “M.C.C Tour 1932-33 souvenir of Second Test Played at MELBOURNE – Won by AUSTRALIA – Presented by STAN McCABE”.
A bat used in the same series by Australian batsman Jack Ryder (lot 109) signed by both the entire English touring party and the Australian squad sold for $4400.
The Bodyline series was infamous for the extremely effective English tactics of bowling short at the batsman’s body to a leg side trap field.
Several Australian Test baggy green caps on offer at the auction proved popular with collectors – the highest price of $17,000 being for former Australian captain Bob Simpson’s 1961 cap from the famous Tied Test series against the West Indies (lot 153).
Another former captain Kim Hughes baggy green (lot 168) brought $10,000, while Peter Philpott’s 1965 cap (lot 248) was a $6500 purchase and former wicketkeeper Barry Jarman’s 1962-63 version (lot 154) went under the hammer for $6000.
Rarely seen cricket cards from the 1912 triangular Test series between Australia, England and South Africa (lot 317) changed hands for $16,000 – four times its lower catalogue estimate. Presented in a period album housed in a custom-built wooden case, the series comprised 58 cards and accompanying research material.
A limited edition 1998 SELECT “Don Bradman Signature Card” in excellent condition (lot 338) sold for $8000, while a right-hand batting glove (lot 231) which the Australian batting legend presented to his friend the late Cecil Cooke, for many years honorary secretary of the Singapore Cricket Association, was knocked down for $4800.
Items in the late Alan Vivian’s football collection also were keenly sought after, particularly an 1875 and 1877 Carlton membership season ticket (lots 355 and 356) that respectively brought $5750 and $3600.
A football jumper belonging to then Hawthorn captain Graham Arthur from the club’s first premiership year of 1961 (lot 658) was another big seller at $6000 and a 1908 Carlton premiership medal awarded to William Payne sold for $4000.
