Australian Cricket Team Tour 1878: Original Photograph with Names

1878 the Australian team to England & North America: original albumen photograph, laid down on backing page with the names of 'The Australian Twelve' printed below. Overall 11 x 17 cm. (framed & glazed, 36 x 31 cm.). From May to September 1878, an Australian team made the inaugural first-class tour of England by a representative overseas side. In October, the Australians played additional matches in the USA & Canada on their return journey. The tour followed one made by an England team to Australia in 1876-77, during which the first matches retrospectively given 'Test match' status were played. None of the 1878 matches had international status, nevertheless the tour proved to be such an outstanding financial and sporting success that the future of international cricket was assured. Fred Spofforth was the star performer of the team.