Treasures of Victor Trumper
Archie Mac |Published: 2023
Pages: 46
Author: Cardwell, Ronald and Cattlin, James
Publisher: The Cricket Publishing Company
Rating: 3.5 stars
This book highlights some of the Victor Trumper treasures featured in the NSW State Library and in some private collections. This is not just a series of photos of some rare collectables however, the authors having also written a short editorial on each piece. These provide context and to the authors’ credit they have found some unique tales to entertain their readers.
Exactly how the authors chose the items featured is unclear, but they have arranged them in such a way as to tell the story of Victor Trumper. They start with a classic photo of his stance on the 1902 tour and an evocative quote by Mrs C.B. Fry, although I have always wondered if this was actually written by her husband – “Trumper is an artist. Someday someone will paint his portrait…standing on short green grass against a blue sky; he will be waiting for the ball, the orchestra to strike up”.
My imagination was captured by two items. The first is a picture of the front of the Sydney sports store that Trumper owned with fellow Test cricketer Hanson Carter. We learn that Trumper was a poor business man, who would often give away stock to young boys. Also at the store Trumper and a few others formalised the breakaway Rugby League association that would eventually takeover from Rugby as the main football code in NSW and Queensland.
The other is a letter written by Trumper to a young fan. Apart from his beautiful handwriting, the authors dissect the topics covered in the letter and then provide details of the 12 year old fan – Robert Coningsby – whom the letter was written to. Trumper gave some cricketing pointers as well as some lifestyle advice such as avoiding nicotine and alcohol. To their credit the authors not only provide a short bio of Coningsby, they have tracked down his enlistment picture from World War II.
This is a lovingly produced publication with items that will be mouth watering to the cricket collector. What is particularly enjoyable are the stories that accompany the items featured, as well as some of the quotes included, with the best being the description of Trumper, by journalist AG Johnny Moyes, part of which is reproduced below;
“when he came he opened the windows of the mind to a new vision of what batting could be…and those of us who saw him in his most gracious days can never forget”.
I thoroughly enjoyable production with all photos produced in colour, this book should be owned by all cricket collectors.
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