A pocket sized autograph book containing a sporting collection of over 55 signatures collected circa 1945 including those of the Scotland national football teams, cricketers and occasional entertainers of the day. Included within are:
1. A single pasted in sheet titled ‘Scotland (Wembley Feb 1944)’ signed by 13 of the Scottish players who lost 6-2 to England in a wartime international before 80,000 fans. Included are the signatures of Matt Busby the captain, Joe Crozier, Willie Kilmarnock, Jimmy Stephen, Archie Macaulay, Jock Kirton, Bobby Flavell, Jimmy Stenhouse, Jimmy Duncanson, and Jimmy Caskie.
2. A pasted in sheet on the reverse of a Grand Central Hotel menu card containing the signatures of the Scotland national team players, undated but most probably a post war team including the captain John Shaw, legendary winger William Waddell, Bobby Brown, George Paterson, Jimmy and Billy Campbell, Jock Dodds, James McGowan, Andrew Paton, George Hamilton and Ken Chisholm.
3. A pasted in sheet containing the signatures of a post war celebrity cricket team known as H. B. Rowan’s Empire XI which toured Scotland and other regions starting in 1945. The team was led by Hugh B. Rowan (a former Strathallan School pupil and governor) and featured a mix of international stars and talented amateurs. Signatures include those of R J Ritchie, R Rowan, H B Rowan, J M Fleming and E S Hodge.
4. Individual signatures throughout including that of Irish and Rangers footballer Bert Manderson, a signed photos of footballer and bandleader Billy Cotton, a signed Nancy Riach swim souvenir, a signed photograph of Scottish entertainer Will Fyffe performing to the troops, English cricketer Sidney Barnes’s signature, George Formby’s signature and the signature of Ken Grieves the cricketer.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Faux crocodile embossed boards in good condition suffering just a little loss to front tail. Measure 13 cm x 9 cm. ‘Autographs’ embossed to upper board. Binding entirely sound. 20 different coloured leaves within. Ownership inscription to front reads L L Biggant.
