ALL ENGLAND CROQUET CLUB AT WIMBLEDON 1872 VICTORIAN ENGRAVINGS

Original Engravings titled SPRING MEETING OF THE ALL ENGLAND CROQUET CLUB AT WIMBLEDON & MR. PENNINGTON’S READING - A SKETCH AT THE PREMIER’S HOUSE.

The All England Vroquet Club was founded by six gentlemen at the offices of The Field on 23 July 1868 at the height of a croquet craze, and held its first croquet competition in 1870. Its original ground was situated off Worple Road, Wimbledon. Croquet was very popular there until the then-infant sport of lawn tennis was introduced in 1875, when one lawn was set aside for this purpose.

The croquet engraving is by Edward Frederick Brewtnall (1846 - 1902). A British genre, landscape and figure painter and illustrator.

The Reading engraving is by Helen Allingham (née Paterson) (1848 - 1926). A British watercolourist and illustrator of the Victorian era.

From The Graphic May 18th, 1872
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited. It continued to be published weekly under this title until 23 April 1932 and then changed title to The National Graphic between 28 April and 14 July 1932; it then ceased publication, after 3,266 issues.

Page size 15 1/2 inch x 11 1/2 inch

The engravings are in very good condition with a 1 inch tear at the bottom edge. Printed text on the reverse.