John Wisden's Public School Matches, Sydney H. Pardon (ed.) — 1st Edition

£149.50

John Wisden's Public School Matches, Sydney H. Pardon (ed.) — 1st Edition

Name: John Wisden's Public School Matches, Sydney H. Pardon (ed.) — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4786
Price: 149.50 GBP
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John Wisden's Public School Matches: A Correct Record of the Matches Played Between Eton, Harrow and Winchester, Sydney H. Pardon (ed.) — First Edition

Publication: London, John Wisden & Co., 1898.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xxvi, 170, [29].

Condition Report: Very Good. The distinctive two-tone blue diagonal cloth boards remain remarkably bright and well-presented for their age, with the gilt tooling to both the spine and front board completely unoxidised and striking. The binding is pleasingly tight and square, showing no signs of weakness or leaning. The spine ends exhibit very minor bumping and light rubbing, while the rear dark blue board shows some faint, scattered spotting and superficial shelf-wear. Internally, the pages are mildly toned, as expected for late 19th-century paper stock, but remain wonderfully clean and entirely free from foxing or significant blemishes. Included loosely within the volume are two pristine 1990s ticket stubs for Lord's Cricket Ground Test matches (England v. India, 1996; England v. Pakistan, 1992), adding a charming touch of continued cricketing provenance without marking the text block itself.

Catalogue Note: This First Edition is an exceptionally scarce piece of early cricket history. Issued in a striking two-tone diagonal cloth binding, it was edited by the legendary Sydney H. Pardon, who notably steered the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for over three decades.

While the title page is undated, this volume was published in 1898, as originally dated at the foot of the preface. The book boasts extensive preliminary and concluding advertisement sections, amounting to 29 pages at the rear, which serve as a fascinating capsule of late-Victorian sporting goods manufacturers. The text provides a meticulous statistical and historical record of the fierce public school rivalries that dominated Lord's Cricket Ground during the 19th century. Copies in this bespoke cloth binding are decidedly rare on the open market, particularly in such well-preserved condition without major fading to the delicate light blue cloth sections.

A quintessential volume for the dedicated cricket historian and Wisden collector alike, this publication meticulously chronicles the historic matches between Eton, Harrow, and Winchester from 1805 to 1897. Compiled under the expert editorship of Sydney H. Pardon, the book offers a definitive record of the defining public school fixtures that shaped the early days of English cricket. Complete with charming period advertisements for cricket bats, balls, and athletic equipment, it provides a vivid window into the Victorian sporting world.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Sydney H. Pardon (ed.)

Book Publisher: John Wisden & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Sport & Games

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 225

Book Publication Year: 1898

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.