Auction of Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Knights Auctioneers last auction of Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia was held on Friday 31st October, Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd November 2025.
The sale included over 1380 lots and we have included some highlights below.
To view the results from the auction click here.
Lot 418 William Gilbert Grace. Gloucestershire, London County & England 1870-1904. Very large and imposing, head and shoulders, bust of Grace sporting a forked beard and wearing a cricket shirt by artist William Henry Tyler SC (fl. 1880-1893). The plaster of Paris bust, produced in 1888, stands on a joined plinth and overall measures approx 32" tall, width: shoulders 24", back to front 13". Inscribed to back of bust 'W. Tyler. SC. 1888'. A large wonderful figure of an almost live size W.G. Grace enhanced with a glorious patina. An extremely rare and important figure of Grace, one of only three similar busts known to exist. Hammer unsold
Lot 507 Australian tour of England 'Triangular Test Tournament' 1912. Excellent fully signed sepia photograph of the Australian touring party 1912. The photograph, by Thomas Bolland, laid down to official photographers mount and is signed by all fifteen players in ink. Additionally signed in pencil to the lower border by Thomas Bolland with the word copyright added in his hand before being presented to Bill Whitty, one of the Australia tourists. Formerly from the collection of Bill Whitty with his intials 'W.J.W.' written in ink to the centre of the verso. A very rare signed photograph of this Australian team. In thirty two years of trading the auctioneer has never sold a similar signed Australian team photograph from this tour of 1912. Hammer unsold
Lot 183 Sydney Francis Barnes, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, England & Wales 1894-1930. M.C.C. tour of Australia 1911-12. Pair of oval hallmarked 15 carat gold cufflinks, presumably, presented to Barnes following his performances for England against Australia in the second and third Test matches played at Melbourne and Adelaide on the 30th December 1911 and 1st - 3rd January 1912. One of the cuff links has the wording 'Melbourne' and '8 Wkts [wickets]' to front and verso and the other has the wording 'Adelaide' and 8 Wkts [wickets] ' to front and verso. An item from the collection formerly the property of Sydney Francis Barnes being sold in this auction. Hammer £1500
Lot 81 William Cafffyn. Surrey & M.C.C. 1849-1873. Excellent ink signature of William Caffyn on paper piece, laid down to large piece of blue album page. A very rare and desirable signature. Hammer unsold
Lot 198 Australian tour of England 1899. Large album page very nicely signed in ink by thirteen members of the Australian touring party to England. Signatures are Joe Darling (Cpt), Iredale, Victor Trumper, Gregory, E. Jones, Howell, McLeod, Laver, Kelly, Johns, Worrall, Trumble and Noble, only lacking Clem Hill from the full touring party. The page measures 6.75"x9". An excellent album page showing the signatures of these early Australians. From an excellent collection of album pages signed by pre WWI Test and County cricket teams. Hammer £1500
Lot 132 Frederick Robert Spofforth. New South Wales, Victoria & Australia 1874-1888. Excellent three page handwritten folding letter dated 29th September 1904 from Spofforth to F.S. Ashley-Cooper. Writing from an address in London, Spofforth is replying to an enquiry about a match in which he played. 'As far as I remember it was played in Dec 1881 on a sheep [farm] and I don't think it was ever published in any paper except the bare fact that I had taken all the wickets….’ Nicely signed 'Yours Sincerely, Fred R Spofforth'. Very slight fading to the signature. A very rare letter from an early Australian legend. Hammer £750
Lot 376 Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji. Sussex & England. 1895-1920. Excellent sepia cabinet card photograph of Ranjitsinhji, three quarter length, in formal attire holding a cricket bat to side. Cabinet card by R.H. Lord of Cambridge, nicely signed in black ink by Ranjitsinhji 'With kindest regards, very sincerely yours Ranjitsinhji'. Sold with a similar cabinet photograph by Hawkins of Brighton of Kumar Shree Devisinhji, Ranji's elder brother signed by him. Rare. From a selection of items from the Indian prince. Hammer £1300
Lot 221 England XI v Australians 1882. Very early large sheet signed in ink by the England XI team who played the Australians at St. George's Park, Harrogate on the 23rd - 26th September 1882. The sheet with the ink signature of William Evans Midwinter of Australia to the top of the sheet and ten signatures of the England team below this. The signatures are Roller, Hawke, Leatham, Read, E.M. Grace, Lockwood, Emmett, Ulyett, Gilbert and Peate. Only lacking Martin Riley of Yorkshire from the full eleven who played in the tour match. A truly wonderful rare sheet containing some very early signatures. Hammer £7000
Lot 396 'United All England XI'. Early and complete material belt in colour bands of I'Zingari with excellent two piece brass belt buckle with applied figures of a batsman about to strike the ball on one piece and a wicket-keeper ready to catch on the the other, the central part with two flags above a wicket, the flags inscribed 'U.A.E.' (United England XI) and the other M.C.C. Makers mark for 'Edward Ade of London' to verso with registration marks and coded date for 19th January 1857. An extremely early rare belt and decorative buckle. Hammer £2800
Lot 503 Warren Bardsley. New South Wales & Australia 1903-1927. Excellent extra large sepia 'Imperial' size cabinet card of Bardsley standing full length wearing batting attire and leaning on his bat. Very nicely signed in black ink to the photograph 'Yours very sincerely, Warren Bardsley'. Photograph by T.W. Bolland of London, taken in 1909 during the Australian tour to England. A superb image and a rare large cabinet card in this signed form. Hammer £600
Lot 377 Kumar. Shri. Ranjitsinhji. H.M. Jam Sahib Of Nawanagar. Sussex & England 1872-1933. Gold cigarette case given to Captain Sam Prichard, Captain of the Mail Boat ‘Scotia’ which travelled from Holyhead to Dublin, by Ranjitsinhji. The case by Hunt & Roskell Ltd of Old Bond Street London, with Ranjitsinhji’s monogram to inside. Hall marked Birmingham 1922. In original case. Ranjitsinhji had Estates in Ireland and used to cross the Irish Sea on the ‘Scotia’. Sold with written and typed authentication by the vendor, the Nephew of Captain Sam Prichard. Hammer £2400
Lot 598 Victor Thomas Trumper. New South Wales & Australia 1894-1914. Early original mono postcard of Trumper in batting pose wearing Australian Test cap. Printed title 'Mr. V. Trumper'. Very nicely signed in black ink to lower margin 'V. Trumper'. Wrench Series no. 1687. Hammer £650
Lot 1095 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1875. 12th edition. Bound in brown boards, lacking original paper wrappers, with title and date in gilt to spine, Gilt to top edge. Probably the rarest Wisden edition. Hammer £30,000
Lot 184 Sydney Francis Barnes, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, England & Wales 1894-1930. Exquisite studio portrait of Barnes taken on the M.C.C. 1911/12 tour of Australia. Barnes is pictured wearing suit and tie. The photograph, laid down to official photographers mount, by T. Humphrey & Co, 264 Collins Street, Melbourne. Nicely signed in ink by Barnes below the image. An item from the collection formerly the property of Sydney Francis Barnes being sold in this auction. £420
Lot 480 John Berry 'Jack' Hobbs. Surrey & England 1905-1934. 'England v Australia. Jack Hobbs 100 runs. Eleventh Test century 1926'. Cricket ball presented to Jack Hobbs with silver band around the ball with the inscription 'England v Australia. Kennington Oval, 17th August 1926. J.B. Hobbs. B. Gregory 100. Eleventh Test century in Test Matches against Australia'. The ball was previously sold as part of The Jack Hobbs Collection in Phillips Auctioneers sale of April 1979 as lot 256. Hammer £1100
Lot 908 Australian dark green wool Test cap embroidered with the Australia emblem and below '1972' in gold thread. Size label inside cap '7". Internally appears to have been match worn and in good condition. Ownership unknown. Hammer £3200
Lot 447 'Good for Fifty'. Royal Doulton Black Boy miniature two handled vase, with printed image of a boy in red shirt and a floppy hat in batting pose in front of the wicket to one side and to the other, a crest with 'The All Black Team'. Green floral decoration to outer rim and handles. 2" tall. Doulton backstamp and number E4336' to base. Circa 1907. A very scarce and rarely seen 'Black Boy' miniature ceramic in lovely condition. Hammer unsold
Lot 611 Australian tour of England 1930. Excellent complete set of fifteen sepia real photograph plain back postcards of each member of the Australian touring party. Each player featured on the postcards has been taken head and shoulders, wearing Australian sweater. Each card has been very nicely signed by the player featured in ink. The players are Bill Woodfull (Captain), Wall, Richardson, Bradman, Fairfax, Jackson, Ponsford, Kippax, McCabe, Grimmett, Hurwood, Hornibrook, Oldfield, a'Beckett and Walker. The postcards produced by B.D.V. cigarettes of Godfrey Phillips of London, as part of their advertising campaign for the 1930 Australian tourists. Hammer£2400
Lot 939 Maurice William Tate. Sussex & England 1912-1937. 'It Kent Be Done! Tate settled Kent'. Original pen and ink cartoon by Samuel Wells depicting a large and burly Tate standing on a pile of cricket stumps while squeezing the life out of a diminutive Kent player. The illustration is undated, but most likely refers to the match, Kent v Sussex, played at Tunbridge Wells 1st- 4th July 1933 in which Tate took 5/28 and 3/69 to help Sussex to a ten wicket victory. Hammer £350
Lot 1214 'The Guide to Cricketers containing full directions for playing the noble and manly game of Cricket.' London 1852. 5th Edition. 8vo. Collected and edited by Frederick Lillywhite. Published by W.&T. Piper of London. Printed by W.H. Crockford. Bound in brown half leather with marbled boards with original wrappers and advertising pages, with title in gilt to spine. Rare. From a large and rare run of the Guide being sold in this auction. Hammer unsold
Lot 298 Sussex C.C.C. 1899. Large original lined page beautifully signed in ink by the Sussex team who played Kent at The Angel Ground, Tonbridge on the 5th to 7th June 1899. Thirteen signatures in total, the eleven that played at Tonbridge plus the signatures of P.H. Latham and F.H. Greeson who played in the return fixture at Hove on the 31st August, 1st & 2nd September. The signatures are Murdoch (Cpt), Cox, Brann, Killick, Butt, Collins, Tate, Ranjitsinhji, Fry, Newham, Bland, Latham and Greeson. An early and delightful set of Sussex team signatures. Hammer £360
Lot 167 Alfred Shaw. Nottinghamshire, Sussex & England 1864-1897. Rare and early single page handwritten letter from Shaw to J.M. Cotterill (Sussex 1870-1888), dated 17th January 1879. Shaw is inviting Cotterill to play in his benefit match, 'Will you favor me by consenting to have your name added to the list of players in the North v South match to be played at Lord's on June 2nd, 3rd & 4th (Whit Monday etc) for my benefit'. Very nicely signed 'Alfred Shaw’. Hammer £280
Lot 14 John Lillywhite. Sussex & Middlesex 1850-1869. Lillywhite's Benefit 1871. Original ornate admission ticket for the match played 'Under the Patronage of the Sussex County Cricket Club. The Gentlemen of England versus the Players of England. John Lillywhite begs respectfully to announce that the above Match will be Played for his Benefit at Brighton, Aug. 14th, 15th & 16th 1871. The Gentlemen will be selected by V.E. and I.D. Walker Esqs.'. The large ticket, more akin to an invitation in appearance than a traditional match ticket. A rare early ticket. Hammer £360
Lot 940 'Kent and Sussex' 1847. Early small original double sided scorecard showing the scores at the close of the first day's play in the match Sussex v Kent at the Royal New Ground, Brighton, 24th- 26th June 1847. Kent winning by an innings and nine runs. Notable players include W. Mynn, Martingdale, F. & W. Pilch, Martin, Hillyer, E. & W. Napper, Box, Wisden etc. Hammer £240
Lot 1117 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 1899. 36th edition. Original hardback. A very rare early hardback edition in very good condition. Hammer £3200
Lot 957 The Ashes. 'England v. Australia' 1882. Early and original double sided official scorecard for the second Test match to be played in England, Kennington Oval, 28th- 30th August 1882. The scorecard with complete printed scores. A very rare Test match scorecard which Australia won by seven runs. Australia's famous victory over a full strength England team inspired the legend of 'The Ashes' with the Sporting Times running a mock obituary of English cricket following their defeat. Hammer £3000
Lot 172 Arthur Owen Jones. Nottinghamshire & England 1892-1914. Excellent studio portrait of Jones, the M.C.C. Captain, taken on the M.C.C. tour of Australia in 1907/08. Jones is pictured wearing pin stripe suit and tie. The photograph nicely signed in black ink by Jones to the image. A rare studio portrait of the player from the tour. Formerly from the cricket collection of Sydney Francis Barnes. Hammer £110
Lot 905 David Denton. Yorkshire & England 1894-1920. Early Yorkshire navy blue 1st XI cap, with the Yorkshire white rose emblem to the front worn by Denton during his playing career. The cap, with smaller peak, typical of a pre first world war cap, by E.C. Devereux of Eton. The stem of the rose emblem in white rather than the later green stem. A early and rare cap worn by a Yorkshire cricket legend. Hammer £460
![Lot 148
William Henry Cooper. Victoria & Australia 1878-1885. Very rare single page handwritten letter from Cooper, written on ruled paper, dated 'Sept 15th [1936]'. Cooper is writing to 'Mr. Hill', being Les R. Hill, the cricket writer and collecto](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6170539f9de5005591e466e3/c47a4bd3-bb70-4dce-87a9-0fa4d2b8f4b3/91_0148.jpg)
Lot 148 William Henry Cooper. Victoria & Australia 1878-1885. Very rare single page handwritten letter from Cooper, written on ruled paper, dated 'Sept 15th [1936]'. Cooper is writing to 'Mr. Hill', being Les R. Hill, the cricket writer and collector base in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Cooper writes, 'At 87 I am granted wonderfully good health' and while he 'cannot do anything in the way of cricket except looking at cricket' he looks forward 'to see something good in a short time’. A very rare signature of an early Australian Test cricketer. Hammer unsold
Lot 601 John McCarthy 'Jack' Blackham. Victoria & Australia 1874-1895. Early original sepia cabinet card photograph of Blackham, head and shoulders, wearing shirt and tie. Nicely signed to the verso in black ink by Blackham and dated 12th April 1889. The photograph by Stilliard & Co. of Oxford. A very rare and sought after signed card of this early Australia Test player. Hammer £1000