Thursday 10 July 2025
A wood Vigoro bat, early 20th century, stamped M.DARK, LORDS and M.DARK MARY LE BONE, 62.7cm...
View MoreA wood Vigoro bat, early 20th century, stamped M.DARK, LORDS and M.DARK MARY LE BONE, 62.7cm...
Starting Bid: £140
Estimate: £200 - £300
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Lot 98
Description
A wood Vigoro bat, early 20th century, stamped M.DARK, LORDS and M.DARK MARY LE BONE, 62.7cm long
Note: Vigoro was a new sport invented by London-based commercial traveller John George Grant in 1901, who saw a money-making opportunity in combining the summer sports of tennis and cricket. It was a fast paced hybrid version of the two sports with two teams of between 8 and 11 players, who bowled, batted and fielded and used a rubber ball, six stumps at each end and a racket. Initially keen to promote Vigroro, the cricket and tennis establishments organised the first match, that was held in October 1902 at Lords, where a team led by star tennis player E H Miles thrashed the opposition led by English batsman Bobby Abel. Following confusion regarding the game, Grant created the round-bottomed wooden bat with long handle. Although enthusiasm in the game in England waned, a version of the sport is still played in Australia to this day, primarily by women, and is now more similar to cricket and baseball rather than tennis.
The Dark family have a long and storied connection with Lords Cricket ground, starting with James Henry Dark, who was a English professional cricketer and later patron of the sport who was the proprietor of Lord's from 1835 to 1864. His brother Benjamin Dark established a bat-making business at the ground and another brother Robert sold a wide range of cricket equipment.
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The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.
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