Submitted by aarAdmin on Thu, 02/28/2019 - 00:00
The Scotland team rugby cap belonging to Judge Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton (1854-1930) was the top money earner at Leski Auctions Melbourne February Sporting Memorabilia auction, selling for $16,000.
Hamilton, whose pastoralist father Hugh migrated from Scotland and married native-born Margaret Clunes, was born in Parramatta, New South Wales.
He was educated in Edinburgh and Marlborough College, England where he captained the rugby team before going on to play for the London club, Marlborough Nomads.
Selected to play for both England and Scotland in the first “international” match in 1874, he chose the latter and played again for them the following year.
The cap highlights the dates in silver thread on the front while his name is inked on the maker’s label.
The next best item ($15,000) was Australian batsman Stan McCabe’s Test baggy green cap. One of Australia’s finest batsman during the Bradman era, the cap dates from the 1936-37 series against England.
The 1921 Australian Test cricket team tour of England and South Africa commemorated in personal photographs and an annotated album by team scorer at the time, Bill Ferguson, that proved popular with bidders and changed hands for $8500.
The coronation portrait of “Ranji” – Colonel H.H. Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawangar in his coronation robes and jewellery – was another winner, selling for $8000.
Bill Kelly’s 1914 Australian Test team jersey, a New Zealander who played one Test for Australia after he switched from rugby union to rugby league and ended up with Sydney’s Balmain Tigers whom he captain-coached to their first premiership, also attracted strong bidding fetching a hammer price of $6500.
The 1947-48 Test team blazer worn by Bill Johnston against India was another highlight, changing hands for $6000.
A left arm pace bowler and orthodox spinner who played 40 Tests for Australia between 1947 and 1955, Johnston was best known as a spearhead of the undefeated 1948 touring team, known as The Invincibles.
Johnston headed the wicket-taking lists in both Test and first-class matches and was the last Australian bowler to take 100 wickets on an English tour.
