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20,000
GBP
0 Bid(s)
1
GBP
20,000 - 40,000 GBP
Live auction
Lot closed
Lot location
Cardiff
A New Zealand All Blacks rugby jersey worn by the great George Nepia (1905-1986) in the first ever All Blacks defeat of Wales at Swansea in 1924.
The All Blacks won the match 19-0 with the Maori full back in superb form, a remarkable display considering he was only nineteen at the time.
The jersey is in the traditional black with white collar, it is complete with draw-string, embroidered New Zealand fern, which points vertically, to a stitched felt panel to the breast and with white felt number '1' to a square stitched panel to the back. There is ‘diamond’ cross-stitch to the shoulders and upper-chest. It bears an internal label inscribed D.HIDDLESTONE. The jersey is in an excellent complete state without any damage of note.
Provenance: As per the internal label, the jersey was in the ownership of David ‘Dai’ Hiddlestone. Dai Hiddlestone (1890-1973) was a Welsh international rugby union player who was capped five times for Wales including against New Zealand in the aforementioned 1924 test - he only played against the All Blacks this once for either club or country. The 1924 test was played on the 29th November at St Helen’s rugby ground in Swansea. Apart from the outcome being Wales first defeat against the All Blacks, the match was notable for Dai Hiddlestone’s impromptu and ill-advised war-dance, a response to the New Zealander’s pre-match Haka. It is thought that George Nepia, unlike other witnesses, wasn’t offended by Hiddlestone’s antics and actually sought the player out to swap jerseys.
What is absolutely clear is that both jerseys must have been swapped as Hiddlestone only played against the All Blacks once. Dai Hiddlestone’s family confirm these circumstances. This type of jersey with the ‘vertical fern’ is supported by a pre-match photograph, included in our on-line cataloguing.
In the years after the match, Hiddlestone intermittently displayed the jersey at his home rugby-club Hendy RFC and in the 1960s the jersey was donated to the club on a ‘permanent loan’. The jersey has been viewed by many tourers including a Maori Youth touring team whilst visiting Llanelli, the team included the late great Jerry Collins. After Dai Hiddlestone’s death in 1973, the jersey was passed on to his daughter and then to her children by descent. One of the children being the Welsh capped and British Lions player Terry Price (1945-1993). Joint ownership has been agreed between the Price family and Hendy RFC.
It was reported that during the match Nepia and fly-half Jack Wetter, the Welsh captain were in a collision. The Welshman temporary retiring from the field of play but returned early in the second half to play out the game with a pronounced limp. Consequently, Hiddlestone who was employed as flanker was pushed out of the forwards in to the back-line as extra cover. Thus in a more opposing role to George Nepia’s position and so providing further reasoning as to why Nepia and Hiddlestone swapped jerseys.
It is explained in his autobiography 'I, George Nepia' (A H & A W Reed, 1963) that the Wales victory was regarded as retribution for the 1905 loss for 'The Originals' in Cardiff which was regarded by many as '…..a miscarriage of justice attributable to incompetent refereeing. We had been brought up to believe that Bob Deans, the centre who scored the try which was disallowed, had exclaimed on his death-bed, only three years later ''It was a try'', and every New Zealand witness of the game was prepared to swear his life away to the same effect. All this had convinced us that whatever we did, we must beat the Welsh'.
During the tour he won lavish praise for his faultless displays of kicking, tackling and fielding. The test match against Wales was the twenty-first match of their 1924-25 tour of UK, Ireland, France and Canada. The tour gained them the nickname 'The Invincibles' due to their record of playing 32 games and winning all 32, including four test matches. In the process they scored a formidable 838 points with only 116 points having been scored against them. Nepia was the only player out of the 29-strong squad to play every match, he was the scorer of 77 points. Nepia's performances prompted one leading British journalist to write, 'it is not for me to question whether Nepia was the best fullback in history. It is a question of, which others are fit to loosen the laces of his Cotton Oxford boots'
George Nepia is regarded as one of rugby's finest ever full-backs and the most famous Maori of his generation. He was the third inductee to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and one of the first fifteen players to be inducted to the International Rugby Hall of Fame during its inaugural year. In 2004 he was selected as number 65 in 'New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers' television show. George Nepia's portrait was featured in a set of New Zealand postage stamps in 1990 and in 'A Concise History of New Zealand' by Philippa Mein Smith, George Nepia is described as New Zealand's 'first rugby superstar'.
George Nepia is also an important figure in terms of Maori racial history; the player was stopped from touring South Africa at the ‘eleventh hour’ as described in his biography ‘…it would be impolitic for us, as non-caucasians, to attempt to travel in a country whose policies toward non-Whites were even then severely restrictive’.
Live
Venue address
Rogers Jones & Co
Unit 17
Llandough Trading Estate
Penarth Road
Cardiff
CF11 8RR
United Kingdom
Multi-location - see lot details
Antiques including Important Rugby Memorabilia, Cardiff
Antiques and Important Rugby Memorabilia INCLUDING THE Tommy ‘Codger’ Johnson (1893-1948) collection
Auction dates
27 Nov 2015 11:00 GMT
Viewing dates
26 Nov 2015 10:00 - 19:00 GMT
27 Nov 2015 09:00 - 10:45 GMT
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Auction currency
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GBP |
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Accepted cards
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The Cardiff venue does not offer 'in-house' P&P service as there are various competitive options for an outsourced service in the locality. Again, please enquire prior to bidding.
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In these Conditions Rogers Jones & Co act only as Auctioneers and Agents and the representative of Rogers Jones & Co conducting the auction is called “the Auctioneer”.
2. GENERAL
Whilst Rogers Jones & Co make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the catalogue and the description of a lot:
a) Each lot as set out in the catalogue or as divided or combined with any other lot or lots is sold by the vendor with all faults, imperfections and errors of descriptions.
b) Rogers Jones & Co do not accept any responsibility for the authenticity, genuineness, origin, authorship, date, age, period, condition or quality of any lots unless they have been instructed in writing by the buyer to so certify.
c) All statements whether printed in the catalogue or made orally as to any of the matter set out in b) above are statements of opinion only and are not to be taken as being or implying any warranties or representations of fact by Rogers Jones Co unless they have been instructed in writing by the buyers to so certify.
3. THE AUCTION
a) The Auctioneer has absolute discretion to divide any lot, to combine any two or more lots or to withdraw any lot or lots from the sale, to refuse bids, regulate bidding or cancel the sale without any case giving any reason or without previous notice. He may bid on behalf of a vendor for all goods which are being offered subject to reserve or at the Auctioneer’s discretion.
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4. RESCISSION
Notwithstanding any other terms of these Conditions, if within fourteen days after the sale Rogers Jones & Co have received from the buyer of any lot notice in writing that in his view the lot is a deliberate forgery and within seven days after such notification the buyer returns the same to Rogers Jones & Co, in the same condition as at the time of sale and by producing evidence, the burden of proof to be upon the buyer, satisfies Rogers Jones & Co that considered in the light of the entry in the catalogue the lot is a deliberate forgery then the sale of the lot will be rescinded and the purchase price of the same refunded. The vendor agrees to be bound by Rogers Jones & Co’s decision.
5. DEFAULT
Rogers Jones & Co disclaim responsibility for default by either the buyer or the vendor because they act as Auctioneers only and therefore do not pay out to the vendor until payment is received from the buyer. Instructions given by telephone are accepted at the sender’s risk and must be confirmed in writing forthwith.
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VENDOR’S CONDITIONS
7. INSTRUCTIONS
As Rogers Jones & Co are Auctioneers all goods delivered to Rogers Jones & Co’s premises will be deemed to be delivered for sale by auction unless otherwise stated in writing and will be catalogued and sold at Rogers Jones & Co’s discretion and accepted by Rogers Jones & Co subject to all the Sale Conditions. By delivering the goods to Rogers Jones & Co for inclusion in their auction each vendor acknowledges that he or she has accepted and agreed to be bound by all these Conditions.
8. COLLECTIONS
Rogers Jones & Co do not themselves undertake the collection of goods but will, if required in writing, instruct a contractor on the vendor’s behalf in their capacity as Agents. Rogers Jones & Co disclaim all responsibility for loss or damage to goods or for unauthorised removal of goods and for damage to premises caused by the contractor who should be insured for such risks.
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Rogers Jones & Co disclaim all responsibility for loss or damage to goods or for unauthorised removal of goods unless caused by the negligence of their employees.
10. STORAGE
Rogers Jones & Co reserve the right to store or arrange for the storage of goods delivered to them for sale either on their own premises or elsewhere at their sole discretion. They exempt themselves from any liability for loss or damage to goods delivered to their salerooms without sufficient sale instructions and reserve the right to take a minimum charge of £1 per lot per day for such goods (unless the loss or damage is caused by the negligence of their employees).
11. RIGHT-TO-SELL
Vendors will be charged for goods left on the premises if the vendor has been requested to remove within twenty one days of such request. Rogers Jones & Co reserve the right to sell the goods to defray costs and storage charges.
12. INSURANCE
Whilst all reasonable care will be taken by Rogers Jones & Co of items on their premises, vendors are advised to enquire of their Insurance Company in regard to possible extension of cover required on items to be removed to the Saleroom even though their items will be insured against Fire and Burglary whilst on the Company’s premises.
13. RESERVES
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b) In the event of any reserve price not being reached at auction, Rogers Jones & Co are empowered to sell after the auction by private treaty, at not less than the reserve price, as long as the goods remain on Rogers Jones & Co’s premises. In the event of such a sale by private treaty the Conditions applicable to a buyer governing the auction will no apply.
c) Any reserve price not marked FIRM will, if necessary, be sold with a 10% discretion.
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The vendor shall duly indemnify Rogers Jones & Co against any claims in connection with any goods sold by Rogers Jones & Co on the Vendor’s behalf.
15. VALUE ADDED TAX
A vendor who sends for sale any chattel(s) which is an asset of his business must disclose to the Auctioneer whether or not he is a registered person for VAT purposes and, if so, his registered number and whether or not he intends to operate the special scheme covering works of art etc. This information must be supplied to the Auctioneer on or prior to delivery of the goods.
BUYER’S CONDITIONS
16. INSPECTION
Ample opportunity is given for inspection and each purchaser by making a bid for a lot acknowledges that he/she has satisfied him/herself fully before bidding by inspection or otherwise as to all the Sale Conditions, the physical condition of an description of the lot including but not restricted to whether the lot is damaged or has been repaired.
17. PROPERTY AND RISK
The property in a lot shall not pass to the buyer until he has paid the purchase price in full but each lot is at the sale risk of the purchaser from the fall of the hammer. Each purchaser shall forthwith give his full names and permanent address and if called upon to do so by the Auctioneer shall forthwith pay to Rogers Jones & Co such proportion of the purchase price as the Auctioneer may require. If the purchaser fails to do so, the lot may at the Auctioneer’s sole discretion be put up again and re-sold.
18. REMOVAL OF GOODS
a) No purchase shall be claimed or removed until the sale has been concluded. All lots shall be paid for and removed at the buyer’s risk and expense by the end of the second working day after the sale, failing which the Auctioneer shall not be responsible if the same are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, and all lots not so removed shall remain at the risk of the buyer and subject to a minimum warehousing charge of £1 per lot per day. If they are not paid for and removed within seven days of the sale the Auctioneer may re-sell them by auction or privately without notice to the buyer. Any liability which there may be on the part of the Auctioneer in respect of any loss shall be restricted to a maximum of the price paid by the purchaser of the lot.
b) If any buyer fails to comply with any of the above conditions the damages recoverable from the defaulter shall include all loss arising from any re-sale of the lot, together with the charges and expenses in respect of both sales, and any money deposited in part payment shall be held by the Auctioneer against the defaulter’s liability and may be appropriated in settlement of that liability.
19. PURCHASE PRICE
19. PURCHASE PRICE
The purchaser shall pay the hammer price together with the current rate of buyer’s premium. The premium is NOT negotiable and includes VAT at the standard rate and is payable by ALL purchasers. The vendor authorises the Auctioneer to deduct commission and expenses at the stated rates from the hammer price and acknowledges the Auctioneer’s right to retain the premium payable by the purchaser.
If the work of a living artist has a hammer price of 1,000 euros or more (approx £700) an additional 4% will be levied on the hammer price. This is known as Droit de Suite and is an obligatory levy which is passed on to the living artist.
EXPLANATION OF CATALOGUING TERMS
1. The forename(s) (or asterisks where not known) and surname of the artist indicate in our opinion the work of the artist.
2. The initial(s) of the forename(s) and the surname of the artist indicate in our opinion a work of the period of the artist which may be wholly or, in part, his work.
3. A picture catalogued as “ATTRIBUTED TO” is in our opinion probably a work by that artist.
4. A picture catalogued as “FOLLOWER OF” is in our opinion a work by a painter working in that artist’s style.
5. A picture catalogues as “SCHOOL” accompanied by the name of a place or country and a date means that in our opinion the picture was executed at that time and in that location.
6. A picture bearing the word “AFTER” is in our opinion a copy of any date after a work by that artist.
7. The term “BEARS A SIGNATURE” means that in our opinion the artist’s name has been added by another hand.
8. Dimensions are given height before width, are at approximate and to the nearest half an inch.
9. “ANTIQUE” – The word antique is intended to define a TYPE of auction and NOT NECESSARILY the age of the items in it. Our Antique Auctions may contain items up to present-day age.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A 32 LOT GAP BETWEEN LOTS 162-194. PLEASE BEAR THIS IN MIND WHEN BIDDING***
TELEPHONE BID BOOKINGS
BY 5PM THURSDAY LATEST
PAYMENT/CLEARANCE OF LOTS
CASH, CHEQUE OR PIN & CHIP
(Volume/High Value Transactions: Customers are
advised to pre-notify their card service)
GOODS ONLY RELEASED AFTER RECEIPT
OF TOTAL PAYMENT
NO CASH PAYMENTS
OVER £1000 PER BIDDING NUMBER
CHEQUES MUST BE CLEARED
BEFORE GOODS ARE RELEASED
3% SURCHARGE FOR CREDIT CARDS -
CARDS ARE ONLY ACCEPTED WITH
CHIP & PIN (NOT OVER PHONE)
PLEASE NOTE: We do not offer an in-house shipping / postal service for this sale. We can ship to Colwyn Bay free of charge, this is done when we have transport between the two salerooms. Please contact us if you require contact details for Mailboxes-Cardiff, the saleroom.com delivery service or Finite Logistics for international shipping.