CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
October
22nd, 2008
THE WORLD’S FIRST RUGBY TICKET TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION
The first-ever ticket for an international rugby union match will be offered for sale in Melbourne.
This remarkable item dates back to 1888 and was printed to commemorate the first British rugby tour
abroad. The match was played at the Association Cricket Ground in Sydney on Saturday, August 4th
between England and New South Wales.
The first official ‘international’ between England and Australia did not happen for another 20 years. The
match was played in London in December, 1908. The sides drew, 22 points apiece.
The ticket, together with a NSW ‘Waratah’ cloth badge, will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions on
Thursday, November 6th at 5.30pm. The lot has a pre-sale estimate of $2,400 - $2,800.
The tour was marred by tragedy with the death of the British captain in a boating accident. He was replaced
by a man who had just completed a tour of Australia with the English cricket team. To cap off the cross-
sporting bonhomie, tour members played a number of Australian Rules Football matches in Victoria and
South Australia to help cover their expenses.
“This extremely rare ticket is in excellent condition,” says Charles Leski. “It may in fact be the only one of its
kind in existence. This is an affordable item of memorabilia that will add enormous prestige to any sporting
collection.”
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
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. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
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 
