ANTIQUE RACKETS BOUGHT & SOLD
We are always pleased to send a selection of photographs to collectors interested in any of our rackets for sale.
THE PREMIER, TRANSITIONAL FLAT TOP, BROWNE & HEPPELL Circa 1890
£540 used
One of the finest and rarest tennis rackets of this period sold by John Philip Browne and the eccentric Arthur Huggins Heppell "Professor Cyril". Made in a high gloss quality frame with original strings and leather strip around top of frame to protect the racket. Only one string brake at the frame edge. Stamped "The Premier" at the top with the Browne and Heppell sports logo at the neck. "The Premier" was one of Brown & Heppells finest rackets to be sold and possibly the first tennis racket to retail at the price of one guinea (twice the price of many other quality rackets of this period). The racket was actually "The Surrey" which was branded and sold by Browne & Heppell as "The Premier".
Features of this racket include the finest Indian natural gut golden coloured strings supplied by importers, Heymans of Finsbury Square, London. Original red trebling, one of the first 19th century rackets seen with coloured trebling and the racket still retains the beautiful gloss wood finish.
Browne and Heppell manufactured and sold sports equipment to the highest standards and had sports premises at Arlington Square, Islington and at Old Street and Finsbury Pavement in the City of London. Arthur H. Heppell retired from the business in 1897 and moved to the South Coast to live. Sadly his eccentric lifestyle came to an end when whilst entertaining people cycling off Brighton's West Pier into the sea, his bicycle toppled off a ramp and he struck his head.
One of the finest and rarest tennis rackets of this period sold by John Philip Browne and the eccentric Arthur Huggins Heppell "Professor Cyril". Made in a high gloss quality frame with original strings and leather strip around top of frame to protect the racket. Only one string brake at the frame edge. Stamped "The Premier" at the top with the Browne and Heppell sports logo at the neck. "The Premier" was one of Brown & Heppells finest rackets to be sold and possibly the first tennis racket to retail at the price of one guinea (twice the price of many other quality rackets of this period). The racket was actually "The Surrey" which was branded and sold by Browne & Heppell as "The Premier".
Features of this racket include the finest Indian natural gut golden coloured strings supplied by importers, Heymans of Finsbury Square, London. Original red trebling, one of the first 19th century rackets seen with coloured trebling and the racket still retains the beautiful gloss wood finish.
Browne and Heppell manufactured and sold sports equipment to the highest standards and had sports premises at Arlington Square, Islington and at Old Street and Finsbury Pavement in the City of London. Arthur H. Heppell retired from the business in 1897 and moved to the South Coast to live. Sadly his eccentric lifestyle came to an end when whilst entertaining people cycling off Brighton's West Pier into the sea, his bicycle toppled off a ramp and he struck his head.
Premier Fishtail - James (Jas) Shoolbred & Co, London c1900
£340 used
A very nice example of a Fishtail racket with double main strings purchased by Ethal Woodcraft from James Shoolbred, a department store in Tottenham Court Road, London. Ethal Woodcraft was a tennis enthusiast playing at several local tennis clubs including Heydon Basin, Maldon and Danbury. This tennis racket remained in the family for 3 generations. The racket has the original natural gut strings, mains with the red cross strings and no warps or cracks in the wood. Only one main string is broken. This fishtail is stamped "Premier" on the Head and "Jas Shoolbred" on the neck.
A very nice example of a Fishtail racket with double main strings purchased by Ethal Woodcraft from James Shoolbred, a department store in Tottenham Court Road, London. Ethal Woodcraft was a tennis enthusiast playing at several local tennis clubs including Heydon Basin, Maldon and Danbury. This tennis racket remained in the family for 3 generations. The racket has the original natural gut strings, mains with the red cross strings and no warps or cracks in the wood. Only one main string is broken. This fishtail is stamped "Premier" on the Head and "Jas Shoolbred" on the neck.
Very Rare Badminton Racket by Holden, Circa 1878
£320 used
A very interesting and rare, well balanced light weight badminton racket measuring 21.5ins long by 7ins wide. It is stamped "London" at the head and is attributed to John Holden of Upper Baker Street, London NW. A very well constructed racket with no warping, cracks or splits in the wood and one of the best examples of this period. Badminton is derived directly from poona, which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. Badminton became popular in England in the 1870s when British army officers returned from India. John Holden was a Society Racket Craftsman producing rackets for Royalty and the famous including Ernest Renshaw, who together with his twin brother, William won the mens doubles at Wimbledon 5 times. He also supplied rackets to shops including the Army and Navy stores with the familiar "London" stamp on the head of the racket. In 1872 he opened his tennis racket shop at 10 Upper Baker Street which at that time was a prestigious London Street close to Regents Park where a small area in the park was available for playing tennis. The business later moved to nearby 68 St John's Wood Road in the 1880s and opened its own indoor tennis court. The racket incorporates an Ash frame and three other types of wood appear to have been introduced into the making of this racket. This is one of the earliest UK made badminton rackets we have seen.
A very interesting and rare, well balanced light weight badminton racket measuring 21.5ins long by 7ins wide. It is stamped "London" at the head and is attributed to John Holden of Upper Baker Street, London NW. A very well constructed racket with no warping, cracks or splits in the wood and one of the best examples of this period. Badminton is derived directly from poona, which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. Badminton became popular in England in the 1870s when British army officers returned from India. John Holden was a Society Racket Craftsman producing rackets for Royalty and the famous including Ernest Renshaw, who together with his twin brother, William won the mens doubles at Wimbledon 5 times. He also supplied rackets to shops including the Army and Navy stores with the familiar "London" stamp on the head of the racket. In 1872 he opened his tennis racket shop at 10 Upper Baker Street which at that time was a prestigious London Street close to Regents Park where a small area in the park was available for playing tennis. The business later moved to nearby 68 St John's Wood Road in the 1880s and opened its own indoor tennis court. The racket incorporates an Ash frame and three other types of wood appear to have been introduced into the making of this racket. This is one of the earliest UK made badminton rackets we have seen.
SLAZENGER DOHERTY c1900
£125 USED SOLD
The Doherty Brothers dominated tennis from 1897 to 1906 capturing 9 Wimbledon single titles between them and the Davis Cup four years in a row. Slazenger produced a special edition Doherty tennis racket. This racket although well used has no warps or broken strings. It still shows the Doherty name in gold on the neck and the usual Slazenger brand and patent mark impressions. A very rare racket to find
The Doherty Brothers dominated tennis from 1897 to 1906 capturing 9 Wimbledon single titles between them and the Davis Cup four years in a row. Slazenger produced a special edition Doherty tennis racket. This racket although well used has no warps or broken strings. It still shows the Doherty name in gold on the neck and the usual Slazenger brand and patent mark impressions. A very rare racket to find
The Surrey Club, Transitional Flat-Top Fantail c1885
£520 used SOLD
An exceptional and very rare English Fantail racket. The Club was a quality racket with a cedar-mahogany handle made about 1885. This racket for sale is a beautiful example of a Fantail Transitional Flat Top tennis racket with no cracks or warps in the wood and no broken strings.
An exceptional and very rare English Fantail racket. The Club was a quality racket with a cedar-mahogany handle made about 1885. This racket for sale is a beautiful example of a Fantail Transitional Flat Top tennis racket with no cracks or warps in the wood and no broken strings.
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