A fine and unbroken run of The John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack from the first year of issue to 1864 to the current 145th edition of 2008, from 1864

A fine and unbroken run of The John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack from the first year of issue to 1864 to the current 145th edition of 2008, from 1864 to 1935 uniformly bound in reddish-brown cloth with gilt titling to spine, the original paper wrappers preserved in the following volumes 1870 to 1878 inclusive, 1930, 1931, 1933 & 1934, also 1923 back wrapper only and 1922 back wrapper partially preserved, the run continuing with unbound almanacks for 1936 & 1937 paper wrappers, 1938 to 1945 limp linen, 1946 to 1950 hardback, 1951 to 1974 limp linen, 1975 hardback with d/j, 1976 to 1978 limp linen, 1979 hardback with d/j, 1980 to 1981 limp linen, 1982 hardback with d/j, 1983 & 1984 limp linen, 1985 hardback with d/j, 1986 to 1988 limp linen, 1989 hardback with d/j, 1990 limp linen, 1991 to 1993 hardback with d/j, 1994 limp linen, 1995 to 2008 hardback with d/j Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, often referred to simply as Wisden or colloquially as 'the bible of Cricket' is by far the best known reference book concerned with the sport of cricket and is one of the most famous and long running sports reference books published in the UK. It was founded in 1864 by the English cricketer John Wisden (1826-1884) as a competitor to Lillywhite's Guide to Cricketers (see lot 811). Its annual publication has continued uninterrupted to the present day, including through the First and Second World War periods. The sixth edition was the first published under its current title; the first five were published as The Cricketer's Almanack, with the apostrophe before the 's'. It has had only 15 editors in over 140 years, including Sydney Pardon for 35 editions (1891 to 1925) and Norman Preston for 29 editions (1952 to 1980). Matthew Engel is the current editor although Scyld Berry edited 2008 while Engel takes a sabbatical. Wisden has always been a small-paged but increasingly a very thick book (over 1,500 pages in modern editions). The distinctive bright yellow cover has been carried since the 75th edition in 1938. In previous years, covers varied between yellow, buff and salmon pink. The 75th edition was the first to display the famous woodcut of two Victorian cricketers by Eric Ravilious on its cover. In 2003 the woodcut gave way to photographic portraits of a contemporary cricketer. In 2006 and 2007, a larger format edition has been published on an experimental basis. Wisden was acquired and published by Robert Maxwell's publishing conglomerate, Macdonald, in the 1970s. Sir Paul Getty bought the company, John Wisden & Co, in 1993. They are now highly desirable collectors' items. In May 2007 Graham Budd Auctions set a world record auction price by selling a collection from first year of issue for ?120,000. This lot represents another rare opportunity to instantly acquire a collection in its entirety.