LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
June
16th, 2008
‘FOOTY’ ARCHIVE OFFERS RARE INSIGHT INTO THE SHERRIN EMPIRE
There is one name that has endured throughout the history of VFL and AFL, transcending even the likes of
Ron Barassi, Dick Reynolds, Ted Whitten and Gary Ablett Snr. That name is T.W. Sherrin.
From his beginnings as a saddler in Collingwood, T.W. (Tom) Sherrin helped to create one of the greatest
sporting dynasties in the world which is unmistakably Australian and based on a single product. Today, 128
years after a misshapen rugby ball entered service in the country’s south, Sherrin is not only the official AFL
football but remains beloved by every generation of footballer and fanatic. It is still made in Australia.
A remarkable archive is now being offered for sale through Leski Auctions of Melbourne. Painstakingly
preserved since 1880, the archive includes three original handwritten character references for Sherrin from his
earliest employers, the original lease for his shops in Wellington Street, Collingwood (September 24, 1894)
which is a critical date in the creation of sporting goods in Australia, and correspondence from Government
House in Melbourne, from the Collingwood Football Club and Ross Faulkner, another stalwart of the game.
There are more than 100 items and photographs contained in the archive with a presale estimate of $3,000 -
$5,000.
“In many respects the Sherrin ball is the holy grail of Australian Rules Football,” says Charles Leski. “There
have been other balls used in the game, but the longevity of the brand, its proudly Australian heritage and the
fact that it remains an iconic symbol gives this archive even greater significance.”
The Auction will be held at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn on Wednesday, June 25th at 6.30pm. The Sherrin
Archive is one of 471 lots of sporting memorabilia.
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia, Australiana,
Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs, entertainment
memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway memorabilia, advertising artwork
and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™, which
allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke, Sir
Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other auction
house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume. Leski Auctions
recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports Museum at
the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
