T.W.Sherrin Archive: [The first Australian rules football was… - Sporting Memorabilia - Leski Auctions Pty. Ltd.

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Description:

T.W.Sherrin Archive: [The first Australian rules football was invented by T.W.Sherrin in 1880, when he was given a misshapen rugby ball to fix. He designed the Sherrin with indented rather than pointy ends to give the ball a better bounce. Sherrin began production in 1897 in a workshop in Collingwood, which had produced sporting goods since the 1880s. The sport known as football, or 'footy', was rapildly increasing in popularity, and Sherrin footballs soon became the icon for being the first ball made for Australian rules football. Sherrin footballs still remain the most popular among leagues, players, and footy fans]. This archive holds some important early mementos of his beginnings as a saddler, the setting up of his business in Collingwood, and the development and protection of his trademarks during the 1920s and 1930s. A. Three original handwritten character references for Sherrin from his earliest employers; Robert Reany, dated 16/6/1880; Francis Sanderson, dated 22/12/1883; and Stibbles & Pash dated 30/4/1885 regarding Sherrin's 'good character'; together with a small folded promotional card from latter business. B. Three letters from Government House, Melbourne, to Sherrin, dated Nov.1891, Jan.1892 and Nov.1892 regarding His Excellency (John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun - later first Governor-General of Australia) trialing Sherrin's first sample cricket balls. The final letter has its reward: 'We have tried the sample cricket balls which you sent, and found them very useful & satisfactory'. Together with one envelope from Government House to Sherrin at 22 Wellington Street, Collingwood. C. Sherrin was in business and finally founded his shop in Collingwood. Included here is Sherrin's copy of the original lease agreement for Sherrin to take two shops numbers 32 and 34 Wellington Street, Collingwood, from 24/9/94 - a critical date in the creation of sporting goods in Australia. D. Collingwood Football Club's annual report for March 1903, noting Collingwood's 1902 Premiership & T.W.Sherrin as a committee member, and the club awarding Sherrin the appointment as a Life Governor of the Melbourne Hospital. Together with 'Victorian Football League, Constitution, Rules, Permits and Laws of the Game, 1903' (incomplete). Also an original printed invitation from Mr Syd Sherrin to a party for Collingwood players on 27/9/1913. E. 19pp Correspondence in 1926 between Tw Sherrins, Syd Sherrin, Ross Faulkner and Hack & Son (Trademark & Patent Attorneys), regarding the departure of Faulkner from the business and his development of a similar cricket ball, with Sherrin belatedly trademarking his own brands, whilst receiving a signed undertaking from Faulkner to stop his trade. F. Boxing - 1926 letters to Syd Sherrin re boxing gloves, one from Sammy Bear on 'United States Fleet/ U.S.S.Pennsylvania' letterhead; other from boxing promoter Biddy Bishop in Seattle, USA. G. 30pp correspondence between Sherrin, Alan Kippax and Hack & Son regarding Kippax's use of a Wallaby on his bats, with Hack defending Sherrin's Kangaroo trade mark: 'it is quite certain in our minds that the Wallaby mark on the Kippax bat would be regarded as a Kangaroo'. Of interest is the Kippax business defence that 'the Emu and the wallaby is the design used by the Australian X1 on their caps'; Kippax's graceful response and one from Wj Sheehan for the bat maker - 'we note that some finality has been reached regarding the definition of a Kangaroo and a Wallaby. We know now that the alleged Wallaby is a Kangaroo according to Webster's Dictionary'. A final sad note from Hack that the Australian Bat Company - which used the Kangaroo trademark illegally - had gone into liquidation. H. 2p overview from Hack & Son in 1945 regarding the trademarking of 'Referee' and setting out the history of the trademarks for the 'Kangaroo' device (1906), the 'Sherrin' (1922), the 'Pioneer' and 'Commonwealth' (both 1926). Also Sherrin business card, illustrated envelopes, newspaper articles. I. (

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Memorabilia: Sporting - AFL/VFL