Cricket, stamps, banknotes and postal history impact Australian auction

Sri Lanka might have recently flogged the Australian Test team in their home country Second Test – but that should not deter cricket lovers from checking out former Australian wicketkeeper Barry Jarman’s impressive collection of three baggy green caps and the same number of blazers at Abacus Auctions forthcoming sporting memorabilia sale from 11am Friday August 5 at 29 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley.

A South Australian, Jarman (1936-2020) debuted in December 1959 for Australia against India when first choice wicketkeeper Wally Grout (1927-1968) became injured.

He made intermittent Test appearances over the next 10 years, in 1966 becoming first choice wicketkeeper following Grout’s retirement and ending up playing 19 Tests for Australia including one as captain against England in 1968.

The three baggy green caps in the auction include two belonging to Jarman (lots 2576 and 2579) – the first from his 1957-58 tour of South Africa and the second from the 1967-68 home series against India.

The third cap (lot 2582)  belonged to his contemporary, champion Australian batsman Norm O’Neill, from the 1959-60 tour of Pakistan. O’Neill played 42 Tests from 1958-65, including the renowned tied Test against the West Indies in which he made a career high 181 runs in the first innings.   

The three blazers (lots 2575, 2577 and 2578) are from Jarman’s 1957 tour of New Zealand, 1957-58 tour of South Africa and 1965 tour of the West Indies.

Sporting memorabilia is on the final afternoon of the three-day auction which begins at 11am Wednesday August 3.

The first two days are devoted to Australia and its colonies stamps, postal history and postcards – followed by a collection of Canadian semi-official airmail stamps and covers from Sydney collector, the late Wilson Wong.

Of particular note is lot 161, a 5/- grey and yellow stamp with dark back on kangaroo – which is only the second recorded mint example with the 'monogram' in the attached margin – and carries a catalogue estimate of $15,000.

Equally impressive is lot 157, a 6d ultramarine stamp block of six, that has a $10,000 estimate. A grey and chrome 5/- stamp with double print of the frame plate (lot 160) is another attraction.

A major auction highlight with a catalogue estimate of $35,000 is the exceedingly rare 1953 Queen Elizabeth II £1 specimen note (lot 2202), of which only two other examples have been offered for sale in the past 10 years.

Complementing this is the 1966 QEII Type 1 specimen set, comprising a $1, $2, $5 $10 and $20 note (lot 2268).

A good example of the Tasmanian postal history on offer is the 1851 cover to Campbell Town (lot 660) with postmaster’s endorsement “Ross/7^th July 51” containing a superb strike of the rare unframed CTOWN (“8”). JULY.51 arrival date stamp.