Mossgreen to offer two baggy greens

By Richard Brewster, on 07-Feb-2016

Demand for sporting memorabilia is stronger than ever – particularly for early items, documents and photographs where the sporting greats have retired or died – and Mossgreen’s first auction of this type for 2016 is a great example.

To be held from 10am Monday February 8 at 926-930 High Street Armadale, the auction features the Australian baggy green Test caps from two former Australian captains – one belonging to the late Richie Benaud from his last Test series in 1963-64 against South Africa and the other to Ian Chappell from the 1973-74 series against New Zealand. 

Demand for sporting memorabilia is stronger than ever and Mossgreen’s first auction of this type for 2016 is a great example. To be held on February 8 at 926-930 High Street Armadale, the auction features the Australian baggy green Test caps from two former Australian captains – one belonging to the late Richie Benaud from his last Test series in 1963-64 against South Africa and the other to Ian Chappell from the 1973-74 series against New Zealand.

Demand for sporting memorabilia is stronger than ever and Mossgreen’s first auction of this type for 2016 is a great example. To be held on February 8 at 926-930 High Street Armadale, the auction features the Australian baggy green Test caps from two former Australian captains – one belonging to the late Richie Benaud from his last Test series in 1963-64 against South Africa and the other to Ian Chappell from the 1973-74 series against New Zealand.

Another highlight is the singlet worn by Australia’s 1968 Mexico Olympic silver medallist Peter Norman (now deceased) famous for his support of American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith who gave the black power salute at the medal ceremony.

Interesting items include an original Weg cartoon labelled Sportsminister of the Year and featuring former Prime Minister Bob Hawke wearing or carryuing gear from a multitude of sports.

Former Australian Test opener Bill Ponsford’s cricket bat should be popular with collectors as it has been signed on the reverse by the 1924-25 Australian and English cricket teams.

A bronze Don Bradman sculpture “The Nonpareil” by Neale Andrew (1998) showing the cricketing icon’s classic cover drive is another attraction and one of only 20 ever cast.

An Australian Football League Team of the (20th) Century print signed by artist Mark Sofilas and the 15 living members once belonging to Richmond great Royce Hart should appeal to football collectors, while a 1936 postcard of SS Mongolia signed by the Australian Olympic team of 34 athletes and five officials is another rare find.

A 1956 Melbourne Olympics ladies souvenir blazer should attract plenty of attention along with Australian sprinter the late Betty Cuthbert’s world record plaques. 

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About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.