The Cricket Annual Explained

The Cricket Annual was a compact cricket annual publication published in 1961 and 1962. This was the final name of a cricket annual that had first appeared in 1895, and was before it was re-named to become the re-styled Playfair Cricket Annual.

In 1962 the Playfair titles (including the Playfair Cricket Annual) were acquired by Dickens Press which had just published The Cricket Annual.[1] In November 1962 editor Roy Webber died suddenly and the decision was made to combine the two annuals so that in 1963, Dickens published a new style Playfair Cricket Annual, using the same name but basing the size, format and price on The Cricket Annual.

Background

The Cricket Annual was one in a long line of publications starting in 1895, with many different titles but with a continuity of format and style. They are pocket book size (approx 9.8 x 13.6 cm) but pre-1928 inaccurately trimmed and size varies (1906 is 8.9 x 13 cm). Pre-1915 books usually contained 96 pages (1908 = 80). From 1904-1914 they were edited by Alfred Gibson (Rover) and then for one year in 1921 by 'Mentor'. From 1922 until 1939 the editor was Frank Thorogood, in 1946 Percy Rudd, and then Crawford White until 1957 when he was joined by Roy Webber. Good quality copies prior to 1921 are rare and the 1895-1899 Star and Leader Cricket Manuals is difficult to find in any condition. The early annuals (pre-1914) sold for one penny (1d). When they reappeared after the First World War the price was 4d (1923 2d) and then in 1929 reduced to 3d until 1939. Post-1946, as the number of pages grew, the cost rose in increments from 6d to one shilling and six pence (1/6) by 1957.

Titles[2]

Details

Editions produced since 1928:-

YearTitleEditorPricePages
1928Daily News Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood4d128
1929Daily News Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1930Daily News Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1931News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1932News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1933News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1934News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1935News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1936News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1937News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1938News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1939News Chronicle Cricket AnnualFrank Thorogood3d128
1946News Chronicle Cricket AnnualPercy Rudd6d80
1947News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White9d96
1948News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s96
1949News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s112
1950News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s144
1951News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s144
1952News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s144
1953News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s144
1954News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s160
1955News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s160
1956News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s144
1957News Chronicle & Daily Dispatch Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s 6d192
1958News Chronicle & Daily Dispatch Cricket AnnualCrawford White1s 6d192
1959News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White & Roy Webber1s 6d192
1960News Chronicle Cricket AnnualCrawford White & Roy Webber1s 6d192
1961The Cricket AnnualRoy Webber2s192
1962The Cricket AnnualRoy Webber2s 6d192

For editions of the annual 1963-present see the Playfair Cricket Annual.

Notes and References

  1. Playfair Cricket Annual 1963, p.5.
  2. A Bibliography of Cricket, Compiled by E.W. Padwick. 2nd edition 1984, p.92 to 99.

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