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WILLIAM EPPS
Cricket. A Collection of All the Grand Matches of Cricket played in England within Twenty Years, viz. from 1771 to 1791, never before published
Troy-Town, Rochester: W. Epps, 1799. 8vo. (7¾ x 4¾in; 201 x 121mm), 104p. (light spotting on title), full red morocco by [?] Bernard Middleton for Eagar.
FINE COPY OF THIS UNOBTAINABLE SCOREBOOK. William Epps (d. 1833) was a provincial printer from Troy-Town, a district of Rochester named after the wine merchant, John Cazeneuve Troy, who sold many building leases in the area. He was also a cricketer who, as Britcher records, represented Rochester in "a grand single match of cricket in Marsh's new ground ... at Rochester, between two gentlemen of Troy-Town, against two gentlemen of Rochester, for 50 guineas" on 20 July, 1799. Epps saw no need to continue his work after 1791 because from then on there had been "a regular annual publication, by Mr. Britcher, the Scorer to the Mary-le-bone Club, which, of course, obviates the necessity" (see his "Apology"). Britcher's annual series of scorebooks reported on the seasons 1790-1805 as they occured, the first issue having a Maidstone imprint. Rather differently, Epps covered a 20-year period antecedent to Britcher in one volume, and his was the first book of scores to cover more than a single season. As the M.C.C.'s official scorer, Britcher was ideally placed to record games as they occurred. Epps faced a different challenge in having to consult and copy scattered historical records, among which were the manuscripts of the Duke of Dorset, the Earls of Tankerville and Winchilsea, Sir Horatio Mann and Squire Paulet.
Epps expressed the hope that his book would become "a choice treasure". Arthur Haygarth made it the basis of volume I of his monumental Scores and Biographies. So few copies survive from what must have been a small print run for the benefit of "amateurs in the game" and "eminent players" that this unpretentious scorebook is unquestionably a bibliographical treasure today. The J. Aislabie copy is at Lord's. Goldman's copy of Epps sold in his 1966 sale for £50, while Arlott's copy, purchased from Leslie Gutteridge, was only relinquished after his death. There is NO COPY IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY, and ESTC records no holdings at all by contributing libraries in the British Isles or North America. Allen 10; Taylor p. 3; Padwick 877.
Cricket. A Collection of All the Grand Matches of Cricket played in England within Twenty Years, viz. from 1771 to 1791, never before published
Troy-Town, Rochester: W. Epps, 1799. 8vo. (7¾ x 4¾in; 201 x 121mm), 104p. (light spotting on title), full red morocco by [?] Bernard Middleton for Eagar.
FINE COPY OF THIS UNOBTAINABLE SCOREBOOK. William Epps (d. 1833) was a provincial printer from Troy-Town, a district of Rochester named after the wine merchant, John Cazeneuve Troy, who sold many building leases in the area. He was also a cricketer who, as Britcher records, represented Rochester in "a grand single match of cricket in Marsh's new ground ... at Rochester, between two gentlemen of Troy-Town, against two gentlemen of Rochester, for 50 guineas" on 20 July, 1799. Epps saw no need to continue his work after 1791 because from then on there had been "a regular annual publication, by Mr. Britcher, the Scorer to the Mary-le-bone Club, which, of course, obviates the necessity" (see his "Apology"). Britcher's annual series of scorebooks reported on the seasons 1790-1805 as they occured, the first issue having a Maidstone imprint. Rather differently, Epps covered a 20-year period antecedent to Britcher in one volume, and his was the first book of scores to cover more than a single season. As the M.C.C.'s official scorer, Britcher was ideally placed to record games as they occurred. Epps faced a different challenge in having to consult and copy scattered historical records, among which were the manuscripts of the Duke of Dorset, the Earls of Tankerville and Winchilsea, Sir Horatio Mann and Squire Paulet.
Epps expressed the hope that his book would become "a choice treasure". Arthur Haygarth made it the basis of volume I of his monumental Scores and Biographies. So few copies survive from what must have been a small print run for the benefit of "amateurs in the game" and "eminent players" that this unpretentious scorebook is unquestionably a bibliographical treasure today. The J. Aislabie copy is at Lord's. Goldman's copy of Epps sold in his 1966 sale for £50, while Arlott's copy, purchased from Leslie Gutteridge, was only relinquished after his death. There is NO COPY IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY, and ESTC records no holdings at all by contributing libraries in the British Isles or North America. Allen 10; Taylor p. 3; Padwick 877.
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