Estimates hit for six
Listed was an almost-complete collection of Melbourne Cricket Club membership badges, from the first year through to the late 1970s.
These badges are classified as sporting memorabilia but they also have value as status symbols. They give the bearer admittance to the members' section at the MCG and, some would say, direct entry into the upper levels of the Melbourne establishment. Many people with social aspirations place their children on the club's waiting list before they are even born.
Charles Leski says these badges appear periodically at his auctions but this was the first time he has seen a nearly complete collection from the period before 1920, and it was the first time he had offered the first MCC badge, produced for the 1901-02 season.
No date appears on the surface of the badge, supposedly because it was made in London by Bowman Limited and they were unable to guarantee its delivery in time. This first design features the Melbourne coat of arms. Subsequent MCC badges were produced by a variety of local manufacturers, with Stokes the most prominent.
Charles Leski gave speculative estimates of $300 to $400 for the first two badges, followed by $200 to $250 for the other examples from the first two decades. Two badges from the World War I period are scarce and were also given estimates of $300 to $400. Those produced after 1920 were estimated at $150 to $200, then down to $100 to $150 for later examples.
What happened next amazed even an auction veteran like Leski.
Lot 185, the first MCC badge, was keenly contested by six to eight bidders and eventually sold for $4750 ($5795 including buyer's premium). That's more than 10 times the higher estimate.
The second medal, dated 1902-03, also inspired a bidding war, eventually selling for $3050, including buyer's premium. And so it continued with a core group of bidders slugging it out on the floor.
Total presale estimates for the badges were $4150 to $5150. They sold for more than $14,000 on the night, not including three unsold lots.
The badges came from one family who, incredibly, found them stored in a hessian bag in a garden shed in the family home. It's thought the collection was started by their great-grandfather.
At one stage there was talk of tossing them out until someone recommended they should have them valued. Wise advice as it turns out.
After the Leski sale there is one MCC badge that has skyrocketed in value. It's the one dated 1903-04 that wasn't in the hessian bag. Collectors who want a complete set will now be after this missing link. Judging by recent results, they'll be happy to pay top dollar for it.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The auction in Melbourne on February 14 featured a record sale of Captain Cook's pistol for $222,000 (including buyer's premium) and a surprise run of strong results in the sporting-memorabilia section, where an almost-complete collection of Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) membership badges sold for more than $14,000 on the night (not including three unsold lots).
The badges exceeded estimates because of strong collector demand, rarity (especially very early examples and World War I period badges), competition on the auction floor with multiple bidders, and the provenance of a near-complete family collection — factors that pushed bidding well above Charles Leski’s speculative estimates.
Lot 185, the first MCC badge produced for the 1901–02 season, was estimated at $300–$400 but sold for $4,750 (or $5,795 including buyer's premium), more than ten times the higher estimate.
Leski’s speculative estimates were: $300–$400 for the first two badges, $200–$250 for other examples from the first two decades, $300–$400 for two scarce World War I–period badges, $150–$200 for badges produced after 1920, and $100–$150 for later examples.
The first MCC badge was reportedly made in London by Bowman Limited and has no date on its surface because the maker could not guarantee timely delivery. Subsequent MCC badges were produced by various local manufacturers, with Stokes the most prominent.
The near-complete collection came from a single family who had stored the badges in a hessian bag in a garden shed; it’s believed the set was started by the family’s great-grandfather. At one point the family nearly discarded them before being advised to have them valued.
The sale shows that sporting memorabilia can significantly outperform presale estimates when items are rare, have strong provenance, or complete set interest. Auction competition can drive prices sharply higher, so rarity, condition and provenance are key drivers of value.
The badge dated 1903–04, which wasn’t in the hessian bag and was missing from the sold set, has reportedly skyrocketed in value after the sale. Collectors aiming for a complete MCC set will likely target that missing link and be prepared to pay top dollar.
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