Sports fans across the world came out in force to snap up every lot in the first ever Cricket and Boxing Memorabilia sale held by Hansons Auctioneers.
The niche event on January 22 was a white-glove sale and competition was fierce to buy rare memorabilia sourced from across the UK.
The top item to take the saleroom by storm was lot 60, an important autograph album from the golden age of cricket. It originally belonged to Gladys Douglas, the sister of renowned cricketer Johnny Douglas (JWHT Douglas, 1882-1930). It contained the signatures of eminent cricketers and went to auction guided at £800-£1,200. It sold for 10 times its estimate soaring to a hammer price of £11,600. It was bought by a private UK buyer.
The autograph book was part of a rich archive of memorabilia relating to Douglas. It was found in a Bath garage by sisters Nicky Lane, 69, and sister Karen Douglas, 68. After losing their mother at the age of 92 in 2021, they had to clear her house and left the garage until last.
An old suitcase was packed with memorabilia relating to Douglas, a former England and Essex cricketer. In addition, a box stashed behind a meter cupboard held a silver tankard from 1860 awarded to iconic English bare-knuckle prize fighter Tom Sayers (1826-1865). The mid-19th Century Canadian silver presentation tankard and cover, hallmarked by Savage & Lyman, Montreal, circa 1855-60, sold for £5,000 (lot 65).
The same collection included lot 62, a writing album belonging to Gladys Douglas which made £1,900 and lot 46, a signed photo of the Australian Cricket team in England, 1921, by T. Bolland of London. It was contested to £1,150.
The items came to auction through family descent. The sisters, both from Bath, are granddaughters of Johnny Douglas’s brother Cecil ‘Pickles’ Douglas, a renowned and respected boxing referee.
More strong results were achieved by a single-owner collection of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks sold on behalf of the late Derek Williams – a Welshman who loved the game but could not play due to disabilities. He wanted his lifelong passion for cricket to help others so left some of his estate to the Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity.
His almanacks, which dated back to 1878, achieved a hammer total of £12,235 and funds raised will benefit Age Concern, Cancer UK and The Lord’s Taverners. Strong prices were achieved by some of the oldest examples including lot 87, a 1903 Wisden Cricketers Almanack, £1,150; lot 88, 1904 Wisden, £900; lot 89, 1905 Wisden, £850 and lot 90, 1906 Wisden, £640.
Another discovery to score high with bidders – found in a Bristol farmhouse – related to a man regarded as the Father of English Cricket, W G Grace. Lot 41, three letters signed by Grace (1848-1915), widely considered to be one of the greatest ever players, sold for £1,000.
The event was led by auctioneers, antiques experts and fellow cricket fans – Charles Hanson, Charlie Ross and Richard Madley. They worked together to bring the sale to fruition.
Charles, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “This auction was a phenomenal success. It achieved a total sale figure of almost £50,000 and the interest was exceptional. My thanks must go to Richard Madley and Charlie Ross who helped to source some amazing finds. They uncovered the Johnny Douglas collection and the sellers, Nicky and Karen, were with us in the saleroom to watch the lots smash expectations.
Nicky Lane said: “We couldn’t believe it. We watched the sale open-mouthed. We were almost in tears. We were stunned when the autograph book hit £5,500 – never mind £11,600. This was never about the money. We wanted these items, which could so easily have been thrown away, to be seen and treasured by sports fans. Thanks to the success of the auction, our dream has come true.”
The Cricket and Boxing Memorabilia sale was held on January 22 at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. Click here for full auction results
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