The Guide to Cricketers
Encyclopedia
The Guide to Cricketers was a cricket
annual edited by Fred Lillywhite
between 1849 and his death in 1866. The title varied somewhat but was generally along the lines of The Guide to Cricketers. It is often referred to as Lillywhite's Guide.
The first edition was published in 1849 and was called 'The young cricketer's guide, containing full direction for playing the noble and manly game of cricket by William Lillywhite. To which is added the Laws of the game, with the latest alterations, and soime brief remarks upon fifty of the most celebrated gentlemen and players in England. The whole collected and edited by Frederick Lillywhite'. It was just 32 pages long and sold for 1s 6d.
The second edition (also 1849) was almost identical but contained an inserted slip entitles 'Alteration of Law VII'. The third edition (1850) added a section on cricket grounds, expanded the biographies and had 3 pages of batting and bowling averages for the 1849 season.
It was only from the fourth edition (1851) that the Guide took on its standard format with a more detailed 'Review of the Season', i.e. of 1850, and became in the nature of a modern cricket annual. The Guide continued with annual editions but occasionally two edition were produced in a year (a winter edition and a spring edition). The last edition was published in 1866 and was the 22nd edition.
The annual contained the Laws of Cricket and then more sections on how to play the game with hints about umpiring, fielding positions and sections of a similar nature. It might also contain short sections on the laws of other sports.
The majority of the annual was taken up with the review of the previous season. Generally only brief details were given rather than full scorecards. This consisted of the names of the two teams, the venue and date of the match plus the innings totals and result. However there would often be a description of the match giving important details. The major counties were covered, together with the M.C.C., Universites, professional elevens and public schools. A large number of very brief biographies were often included.
John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion started in 1865 and with Fred's death this incorporated The Guide to Cricketers from 1867. James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
started in 1872 and this in turn incorporated the John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion which ceased after the 1885 edition. James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
continued until 1900. John Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion is referred to as "Green Lillywhite" and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
as "Red Lillywhite" because of the colours of their covers.
Alfred D Taylor thought that the 6th edition (1853) was "of especial value, being the rarest issue of the series". Such was the rarity of this edition that Thomas Padwick wrote out the whole 230 pages by hand because he was unable to acquire a copy. The last few editions are the most common.
On 14 January 2004 a nearly complete set of 'The Guide to Cricketers' sold for £70,000. Leslie Guttereridge Auction at Lawrences Auctioneers
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
annual edited by Fred Lillywhite
Fred Lillywhite
Frederick Lillywhite was a sports outfitter and cricketing entrepreneur, who organised the first overseas cricket tour by an English team and published a number of reference works about cricket.-Cricketing dynasty:...
between 1849 and his death in 1866. The title varied somewhat but was generally along the lines of The Guide to Cricketers. It is often referred to as Lillywhite's Guide.
The first edition was published in 1849 and was called 'The young cricketer's guide, containing full direction for playing the noble and manly game of cricket by William Lillywhite. To which is added the Laws of the game, with the latest alterations, and soime brief remarks upon fifty of the most celebrated gentlemen and players in England. The whole collected and edited by Frederick Lillywhite'. It was just 32 pages long and sold for 1s 6d.
The second edition (also 1849) was almost identical but contained an inserted slip entitles 'Alteration of Law VII'. The third edition (1850) added a section on cricket grounds, expanded the biographies and had 3 pages of batting and bowling averages for the 1849 season.
It was only from the fourth edition (1851) that the Guide took on its standard format with a more detailed 'Review of the Season', i.e. of 1850, and became in the nature of a modern cricket annual. The Guide continued with annual editions but occasionally two edition were produced in a year (a winter edition and a spring edition). The last edition was published in 1866 and was the 22nd edition.
The annual contained the Laws of Cricket and then more sections on how to play the game with hints about umpiring, fielding positions and sections of a similar nature. It might also contain short sections on the laws of other sports.
The majority of the annual was taken up with the review of the previous season. Generally only brief details were given rather than full scorecards. This consisted of the names of the two teams, the venue and date of the match plus the innings totals and result. However there would often be a description of the match giving important details. The major counties were covered, together with the M.C.C., Universites, professional elevens and public schools. A large number of very brief biographies were often included.
John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion started in 1865 and with Fred's death this incorporated The Guide to Cricketers from 1867. James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual was a cricket annual edited by Charles W Alcock the secretary of Surrey County Cricket Club between 1872 and 1900. It is generally referred to as Red Lillywhite because of colour of the cover. It was published by James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co...
started in 1872 and this in turn incorporated the John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion which ceased after the 1885 edition. James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual was a cricket annual edited by Charles W Alcock the secretary of Surrey County Cricket Club between 1872 and 1900. It is generally referred to as Red Lillywhite because of colour of the cover. It was published by James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co...
continued until 1900. John Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion is referred to as "Green Lillywhite" and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual was a cricket annual edited by Charles W Alcock the secretary of Surrey County Cricket Club between 1872 and 1900. It is generally referred to as Red Lillywhite because of colour of the cover. It was published by James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co...
as "Red Lillywhite" because of the colours of their covers.
Alfred D Taylor thought that the 6th edition (1853) was "of especial value, being the rarest issue of the series". Such was the rarity of this edition that Thomas Padwick wrote out the whole 230 pages by hand because he was unable to acquire a copy. The last few editions are the most common.
On 14 January 2004 a nearly complete set of 'The Guide to Cricketers' sold for £70,000. Leslie Guttereridge Auction at Lawrences Auctioneers