One leaf in a small autograph album (leaf size 80 × 138 mm) signed in ink (on the recto only) by seven members of the Australian squad selected to tour England in 1930
The signatories are a'Beckett, Fairfax, Grimmett, Hurwood, Kippax, Oldfield, and Walker. The signatures were collected by the parents of a five year-old boy when the family travelled on the same ship as the cricketers on the voyage to England in early 1930. The leaves are the first two in an album with the printed image of the ship, the Orient Line's SS 'Orford', on the front cover; some of the leaves are held in place with clear paper tape, but the overall condition is very good. The page was also signed in pencil by Victor Richardson (and again by Walker), but the young owner went over these signatures in ink (after first having tried to erase the second Walker signature, written at right angles along the right-hand side, at the end of the other signatures. The balance of the squad's signatures, on another page, are similarly gone over). However, among the seven decent signatures, there are some famous names, as well as some rare and interesting Test players. Ted a'Beckett played in four Tests; Alec Hurwood played in only two Tests; Charlie Walker toured twice (1930 and 1938) without playing in a Test match due to injuries (and he was killed in action in a bombing mission over Germany in 1942).
Item #109418
Price (AUD):
$300.00