1930s cricket legends and Sir Malcolm Campbell among stars in autograph album of signed caricatures and photographs

Auction date Monday 26th August

HAND-DRAWN caricatures and photographs signed by 1930s cricketing legends feature in an autograph book going to auction in Staffordshire next week.

The Lion Brand album also features a plethora of signed drawings and photos, notes, letters and newspaper cuttings featuring personalities of the era including Sir Malcolm Campbell, Gracie Fields and John Wayne.

The collection goes under the hammer at The Lichfield Auction Centre as Lot 852 on Tuesday, August 26.

“Occasionally something lands on your desk and you just think ‘wow’,” said Robert French, ephemera specialist at Richard Winterton Auctioneers.

“This wonderful album is such an item. It has such a wide-ranging degree of subjects and is of great historical interest.”

Drawn and compiled by Birmingham man Reginald Sheffield, who variously lived in Sparkbrook, Acocks Green and Kings Heath, the album comes to auction from a relation of an Army friend of Mr Sheffield, to whom the album had been passed.

Auctioneers were especially knocked for six by signed caricatures and photographs of cricketing legends Sir Donald Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, pictured above, Wally Hammond, Dennis Compton, Bill Bowes and around 40 other cricketers from that time as well as some notes from Lords Cricket Ground.

“Sir Donald George Bradman ‘The Don’ is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time,” said Mr French.

“In 1948 at The Oval his test average stood at 101.39, requiring four runs to reach 7,000 test runs and maintain an average of 100 in his final test innings.

“Bradman had a guard of honour when he went out to the wicket but the greatest batsman in cricket history was dismissed for a duck and the ground fell silent.

“His test average remains at 99.94.”

Another caricature depicts and is signed by HW ‘Bunny’ Austin, the last British man to reach a Wimbledon Men's Final before Andy Murray.

Stage and screen icons in the album include Gracie Fields, Will Hay, Grace Moore, Mary Pickford, Myrna Loy, Jessie Matthews, Tom Walls and an early promotional photo signed by John Wayne.

One especially striking section features land speed record driver Sir Malcolm Campbell.

The motoring hero’s signed drawing is surrounded by red and black Art Deco artwork across two pages with the other page showing Campbell’s iconic 1930s modernist Blue Bird car zooming into the distance.

There is also a photograph of the Grimsby fishing trawler Girl Pat, signed by its Captain George ‘Dod’ Orsborne and his brother Jim Orsborne.

“The vessel was the subject of a media sensation in 1936 when Capt Orsborne took it on an unauthorised transatlantic voyage which ended in Georgetown, British Guiana, where he and his brother were arrested,” said Mr French.

“The pair were later imprisoned for the theft of the trawler.

“In his memoires years later, Capt Orsborne made unsubstantiated claims that he had been carrying out a mission on behalf of British Naval Intelligence connected with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936.”

The photo of Girl Pat in the album shows the vessel moored on the Demerara River in Georgetown.

It is accompanied by letters from Orsborne’s solicitors presenting the autographs and asking for further copies of the print to assist with the captain’s defence.

But apparently not everyone responded as amicably to Mr Sheffield – one letter in German, dated March 20 1934 from Wilhelmstrasse 55, Berlin W8, declines a request for the Chancellor’s autograph.

There is also a refusal from the Italian Consulate dated December 1933.

“The sheer range of this album is impressive in itself,” added Mr French.

“When you take into account the talent displayed by these wonderful caricatures and drawings, this book is a rare treasure for sports and film fans alike.

“It is a wonderful piece of history.”

Auctioneers anticipate the album fetching between £400 and £600.

The sale on Tuesday, August 26, at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley Park, starts at 9am.

Viewing in person takes place on Friday, August 22, between 10am and 4pm.

View the catalogue online here.

Rob French will be offering free, drop-in valuations at The Auction Café, 34 Market Street, Lichfield, from 10am-12.30pm on Wednesday, September 3.

Valuation appointments may also be booked at The Lichfield Auction Centre – call 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Free home visits to assess large collections or discuss house clearances are also available.