Cricketing Bygones

In recent years there has been a great upsurge in the collecting of objects connected with cricket. In this book Stephen Green, the curator of the MCC’s collection at Lord’s, indicates the rich variety of cricketing treasures. After a brief historical survey, he goes on to consider the collection of bats, balls, stumps, bails and cricketing costume and then takes a look at the vast literature connected with the game. Other subjects covered ate the collecting of cricketing photographs, postcards and autographs whilst particular attention is paid to the remarkable number of works of art – paintings, prints, engravings and ceramics – which have cricket as their theme. The nostalgic world of cigarette cards is not neglected and the ‘miscellaneous’ section covers everything from gramophone records to Stevengraphs. There is a note on places to visit and a short reading list is included. An appendix helps the reader to identify Vanity Fair cartoons depicting cricketers.

Stephen Gren was born on the Isle of Eight and was educated there at Ryde School before proceeding to Monkton Combe School, Brasenose College, Oxford , and Liverpool University. In 1966 he became Assistant Archivist at the County Record Office, Delapre Abbey, Northampton. Two years later he was appointed to his present post as curator of the MCC’s historical collection. In this capacity he looks after the Library, Memorial Gallery and archives at Lord’s Cricket Ground.