I Thought It Was Time to Retire
1930.
280x220mm. An original sequence of nine caricatures, in ink on paper, depicting village cricketers batting, with the legend, "I didn't mind bowling at the station master or - the policeman - or the butcher's boy - or the butcher - or the parson - or the publican - or Giles the farmer - but when the local quoits champion hit me into the next county - I thought it was time to retire." Signed and dated "Hillington 1930". Mounted, framed and glazed.
Arthur Mailey (1886-1967) was a successful leg break bowler, taking 99 wickets from Australia in 21 tests between 1921 and 1929, however his lasting talent was as a cartoonist and he had a particular knack of caricaturing his team mates and opponents, his ready wit creating a humorous narrative with a sequence of cartoons. He drew for the Sydney Arrow and Bulletin and the London Bystander as well as writing and illustrating a number of books, most notably his account of the Bodyline series, And Then Came Larwood and his autobiography, 10 for 66 And All That. Although individual sketches appear occasionally complete cartoon sequences are rarely seen in commerce.
Mailey retired from first class cricket in 1930.
PROVENANCE: Archie and Ruth Scott (who entertained Mailey and the 1930 Australians at Hillington Hall, Norfolk, received from the artist); Henry Blofeld (Cricket broadcaster and journalist, signed on back of frame with a description of the provenance).
Stock ID: 35814
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