Hedley Verity: Memorabilia from the golden age of cricket to be sold at auction

Memorabilia from the golden age of cricket is being sold in an online auction this week as Knights Auctioneers are selling the collection of former Yorkshire and England player Hedley Verity, as part of a Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia sale.

Verity was one of the finest players of the 1930s. He was killed in action at the age of 38 during the Second World War after bravely leading an attack on German positions in Italy.

The legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman called him one of the world’s great left-arm bowlers and praised him for his “indomitable fighting spirit" on the field and great sportmanship.

“During our association together I cannot recall having heard Verity utter a word of complaint or criticism,” said Bradman.

“If reports of his final sacrifice be correct, and I believe they are, he maintained this example right to the end.”

The auction starts today and is online until Sunday.

Among items on sale is Verity’s navy blue cloth Test touring cap, worn during the notorious tour of Australia in 1932-33, known as the Bodyline tour due to the tactics of then England captain Douglas Jardine.

The rare cap, which has an estimate of between £7,000 and £10,000, was one of only 17 issued to the players on the tour.

Along with the cap the lot includes Verity’s blazer pocket badge and tie from the series. The original ball with which Verity took a career best 8-43 during the Ashes series in 1934 is up for sale, and is expected to make between £3,000 and £5,000. It has a silver band around its seam and is mounted to a wooden base on three cricket stumps with green baize base.

Also on sale is a ceramic plate of Verity, ‘England’s Famous Spin Bowler’.

There are several copies of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in the auction, the rarest being the 12th edition 1874, second issue.

This book is from the library of John Arlott, cricket author, broadcaster and commentator, and was previously sold in the Christie's auction of September 1992, and has an estimate of between £20,000-£30,000.

A hallmarked silver cigarette box belonging to Yorkshire and England cricketer Roy Kilner, who was born in Low Valley, near Barnsley, with the inscription 'To Roy Kilner from Rowntree & Co Ltd, York to commemorate Australia Tour 1924-25', is expected to sell for between £180 and £250.

There is also an early photograph postcard of WG Grace standing on the outfield at Trent Bridge, signed by Grace and postmarked 'Sydenham 18th July 1904', near where Grace was playing for London County. It has an estimate of £250-£350.

A large sepia photo of the England and Australia teams taken on the Australian tour of England in 1905 also has a £250-£350 estimate. A spokesman for Knight said the sale will include around 1,900 lots. It also includes autographs and photographs of Yorkshire players and letters written by them.

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