Willingham Auctions is pleased to include a rare autograph of cricket
legend W G Grace (1848-1915) in our upcoming 24th October sale. The
post card is handwritten and signed by the cricketer, addressed to
fellow player Lionel Wells (1870-1928) and dated 10 June 1905. It's
an invitation for Wells to join London County Cricket Club, as he
often did, against the University of Cambridge's cricket team.
Grace served as LCCC's manager, secretary and captain from 1898 until
the enterprise folded in 1908. The club only played exhibition
matches, which were given first class status from 1900 to 1904. By
1905, when Grace invited Wells to play against Cambridge, the club's
schedule was already significantly reduced, given their financial
problems, Grace's age and decline, and dwindling attendance. The
planned matches against Cambridge in June of that year fell through.
A good photo of Grace:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WG_Grace_c1902.jpg#/media/File:WG_Grace_c1902.jpg
