A Yard of Croquet History for Sale

[<<] [>>] by Patricia Duke-Cox
1 May 2008 (Other News)

A golden opportunity to purchase some of the earliest history of the CA is being made possible thanks to Bath Croquet Club.

Bath CC offered the CA original back copies of the Gazette so that its holdings of originals could be completed. The CA has replaced the issues taken with bound photocopies and the restored run is now to be sold by closed auction. The proceeds of the sale will go wholly to the Bath Croquet Club.

Lot 1: Complete run of volumes 1 (1904) to 33 (1936)
Volumes 1 (1904) to 3 (1906-7) are bound photocopies.
Volumes 4 (1907-8) to 5 (1908-9) are bound originals.
Volume 6 (1909) is a bound photocopy.
Volumes 7 (1910) to 33 (1936) are unbound original issues except for volumes 16 (1919) and 17 (1920) which are unbound photocopies.
There are also 6 individual issues missing from the period 1911 to 1931, viz. issue numbers 25 (Vol 8), 407 (Vol 19, 1922), 572 (Vol 24, 1927), 590 (Vol 25, 1928), 603 (Vol 26, 1928) and 678 (Vol 28, 1931) which have been photocopied.

(Guideline estimate: £800 - £1,000)

Lot 2: Issues 141 (October 1976) to 281 (September 2002)
Complete run of original issues except for issue number 184 which has been photocopied.

(Guideline estimate: £200 - £400.)

More detailed information can be obtained from Patricia Duke-Cox via duke-cox#hotmail.co.uk, who will also be able to make arrangements to inspect the copies which are currently held at the CA Office.

In 2005, a run of Gazettes from 1904 to 1981 together with other materials, bound by an amateur into 20 volumes with over 5 volumes photocopied, fetched £2,000 at auction. Another, broken, run from 1904 to 1933 with other materials fetched £1,200.

The condition of the set is "used" and the buyer can expect some damage. The successful purchaser should be aware that both lots must be collected from the CA Office.

Anyone wishing to make a bid at or above the lower guideline figure should place it in a sealed envelope marked "Bath Gazettes" and send it to the CA Vice-Chairman, Mrs P Duke-Cox at 171 Witham Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincoln LN10 6RB by 1 June 2008.