Felix [Nicholas Wanostrocht] document on vellum with signature and wax seal dated 20th August 1828, being an indenture relating to the sale of Felix's

Felix [Nicholas Wanostrocht] document on vellum with signature and wax seal dated 20th August 1828, being an indenture relating to the sale of Felix's school Alfred House Academy and land fronting the Turnpike Road from Camberwell to Peckham near Camberwell Green, 35 lines of manuscript text, document size 68 by 48cm., 26 3/4 by 19in., framed & glazed, overall size 58 by 78cm., 23 by 30 3/4in. An important document relating to the noted 19th century gentleman amateur cricketer, author and artist. Furthermore the document identifies the actual date of the removal of Felix's school from Camberwell to Blackheath, previously thought to be about 1830 (Dictionary of National Biography Vol 59). Three days after the signing of this document Wanostrocht played in his first match at Lord's under his new pseudonym of N. Felix (Scores and Biographies Vol 2). Nicholas Wanostrocht (1804 - 1876) was immortalised in the verse of W J Prowse ''And with five such mighty cricketers 'twas but natural to win, As Felix, Wenman, Hillier, Fuller Pilch and Alfred Mynn''. This at a time when the Kent XI took on England and often won. Felix played for Kent between 1834 and 1852 and for William Clarke's All-England XI between 1847 and 1853. He was also President of the All-England XI and invented the world's first bowling machine ''The Catapulta''. Felix was also the author of the acclaimed instructional book with coloured illustrations - ''Felix on the Bat'', as well as a painter and illustrator who produced portraits of Alfred Mynn, Lillywhite, Box, Guy, Fuller Pilch, Dorrinton, Anderson, Wenman, Adams et al. The document is for the sale of Alfred House Academy to Stacey Grimaldi (1790 - 1863), a descendant of Alexander Grimaldi - Doge of Genoa. In 1835 he Inherited the title Marquis Grimaldi of Genoa and was claimant to the Principality of Monaco. Grimaldi was an eminent lawyer, prolific author, and a leading member of the Society of Antiquaries and the Incorporated Law Society (source: Dictionary of National Biography). Note: Pupils and others associated with Felix and his school included - G F Watts, W J Prowse, Thomas Hood and Sir John Gilbert. Alfred House Academy - which was the birthplace of Nicholas Felix - later became The Royal Naval School and remained so for much of the 19th century.