A rare souvenir poster of the pioneering 1868 Australian Aboriginal cricket team is set to go under the hammer in Staffordshire.
The photographic print, believed to be around 159 years old, will be offered for sale by Richard Winterton Auctioneers as part of an Antique & Home Sale on Monday 20th April at The Lichfield Auction Centre.
Estimated at £600 to £700, specialists say the historic item could attract higher bids.
The poster came to light following a house clearance in Sutton Coldfield. Another known copy is held by the Australian National Portrait Gallery.
The 1868 team holds a unique place in sporting history as the first Australian side to tour internationally, travelling to England a decade before the first official Test match was played on British soil. Team members had learned cricket while working as stockmen on cattle stations in western Victoria.
The six-month tour began with a match at The Oval in May 1868, drawing a crowd of 20,000. During the tour, the team not only played cricket but also showcased traditional skills such as boomerang throwing and spear-throwing, creating a cultural exchange alongside the sport.
The poster was produced to promote the tour and features individual portraits of players and managers, taken by photographer Patrick Dawson of Hamilton, Victoria. These were combined to create a composite image, published in 1867 by H.G. De Gruchy & Co of Melbourne.
Each First Nations player is depicted either in a cricketing pose or holding traditional equipment such as a boomerang or spear, reflecting the dual focus of the tour.
Auctioneer and valuer David Fergus said the discovery was a significant moment.
Aboriginal cricketers have a pioneering history in Australia.
Not only did the 1868 team become the first-ever Australian side to tour England, they did it a full 10 years before the Australian XI team made the journey for the first official test match on British soil.
The cultural crossover of heritage with sport, with the Aboriginal team showcasing traditional skills alongside their cricketing prowess, emphasises the tour’s importance.
So it was a special moment to discover this rare piece of Australian cultural history following a house clearance.I was certainly knocked for six. – David Fergus, Auctioneer and Valuer
The team played 47 matches during the tour, winning 14 and drawing 19. Johnny Mullagh was the standout player, scoring 1,698 runs and taking 245 wickets.
The poster will go under the hammer from 9am on 20th April, with bidding available online, in person or by prior arranged telephone bid.
The auction catalogue will go live online a week before the sale date via www.richardwinterton.co.uk/auctions/auction-calendar.
The item can be viewed in person at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, between 10am and 4pm on Friday 17th April.
For more information, to arrange a free valuation of collectables or to enquire about a home visit for large collections or house clearances, email office@richardwinterton.co.uk or call 01543 251081.
