LORD'S

On watermarked paper roughly 13 x 20.5 cm. Dimensions of image 9 x 13 cm. With plate mark. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Loosely attached to brown mount. Rare eighteenth-century cricket print from the June 1793 issue of the 'Sporting Magazine'. Cardus & Arlott state, in their 'Noblest Game' (1969), that 'This print, once barely considered, has lately become rare'.

12mo, 1 p. Bifolium. On aged and foxed grey paper. Reads 'June 20th | Dear Barnes | Selection Committee will be pleased if you will play for England v The Rest at Lords 29th. | Yours faithfull | [signed] Hawke'. Hawke was an England selector between 1899 and 1909, and Barnes, one of the finest bowlers in English history, made his international debut in 1901. I'm sure someone will tell me if this was Barnes's first game for England.

English cricketer (1845-1901), wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman who played for Oxford University and M.C.C. 1 page, 16mo. Grubby and discoloured, with some fading, but no loss of text. The context raises the interesting possibility that a pseudonymous article might be identified as Boyle's. "Dr. Mr. Maxwell. | I enclose the paper on Lords Cricket which I think [hope] will be worth its space.