A vintage postcard-format portrait photograph inscribed in ink on the verso 'To Olive with Love from "Archie"'
The head-and-shoulders image shows a young-looking Jackson in a NSW cap, with 'Australian Test Team - A. Jackson' printed beneath it; the verso is printed for mailing purposes, and includes the words 'This is a real [gelatin silver] photograph'.
It was issued as part of a series of fifteen portrait postcards of the 1930 Australian Test team. 'Jackson reached his peak at 19 when, in Adelaide against England in February 1929, he played in his first Test match and scored a chanceless 164 runs in 368 minutes. He had opened the first innings with W.M. Woodfull; at one stage the score was 3 for 19. P.G.H. Fender said he made "every conceivable stroke, [with] perfection of timing". He was the toast of Australia.... He was selected for the 1930 tour of England, but the weather and ill health constricted him, though he scored 1023 runs. The disease [tuberculosis] stalked him; he failed in the 1930-31 series against the West Indies and was dropped from the Australian side. Lung ravage was diagnosed in 1931 and Jackson went to a sanatorium in the Blue Mountains, later to a cottage there to be looked after by his sister Margaret. Seeking warmer weather, he went to Queensland in 1932, played some cricket and looked forward to the 1934 tour of England. But he died in Brisbane on 16 February 1933' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). This image would appear to show him in his prime, in 1929, and we suggest the inscription is pretty much contemporary with the publication of the postcard.
Item #114854
Price (AUD):
$550.00