Perhaps the easiest and most common path into memorabilia
collecting is via the once-humble match programme. Some surviving
examples from the 1880s and earlier were single-sheet, single-side
even at international level, and intended mainly or solely as an
aide-memoire and indication of the players selected. They gave
(doubtless to the delight of the Scottish RU), no numbers for the
players, since at first (and, with Scotland, for a long time)
jerseys bore none. As the King was told, none were needed 'because
this is a game, not a cattle market'! Forwards, in addition, had no
specialised positions onfield and hence on programmes for many
years.
These flimsy bits of paper, purchased for perhaps two
old pennies (less than 1p), were unlikely to long outlive the
match. No wonder, then, that they are so rare even for the biggest
games before 1900. If you find one, hold on: and if need be, get it
conserved. Most were 'official', though there are quite early
examples of newspapers or entrepreneurs, exploiting growing rugby
interest and attendances, charging for 'pirate' issues with
possibly less accurate details. Demand has now grown even for these
'bootleg' versions, which were produced at least to the 1950s in
the UK - and the '80s in Ireland, with some humorously badly
photocopied cut-and-paste attempts.
Programme images courtesy of Dave Richards (Rugby Relics)
& Dave Dow (Swansea RFC)
Wales v New Zealand 1905, that most memories-and
memorabilia-laden game, has seen 'piracy' ancient and modern. By
then the bigger clubs and certainly many 'Tests' boasted more
substantial issues, with Wales' contemporary economic and national
confidence (and historic win) reflected in the eight-page official
offering's bold, part-coloured cover. This is regularly nominated
as the 'holy grail' of programme collecting, with its historic
importance across the hemispheres and controversial 3-0 result.
There was another, wholly different unofficial version produced,
including adverts, the great staple of most post-First World War
programmes. That one too has grown in value, and the UK's No.1
dealer has never handled one. It inspired a reprint, either in 1935
or 1953, which has itself been sometimes sold as if was the 1905
issue: effectively a 'pirate of a pirate'. Sometimes false claims
about a programme are accidental, sometimes not. That reprint was
made from an original with glue-caused rips and newspaper print on
the rear cover: it's not hard to spot, and it has a certain quirky
attraction, but it can in no way be an actual 1905 issue. It's also
hard to decide what the original colour was: has blue faded to
buff, or the other way around, or were there always both shades?
Souvenirs of the tourists sold well then and since, and in 1981 a
reprint of the original official programme was privately
commissioned, too, but with the fact of its reprinting clearly
marked. Neither reprint is really valuable, though, and as with all
memorabilia you should try to be sure about what you are getting.
Look, check, ask!...' Very recently, NZ rugby-writing great Ron
Palenski was also asking for information on this very programme on
the 'Rugby
Remembered'
Facebook page. Can any reader help shed more light on the
'Mystery of the 1905 Pirate'? Answers in the comments.
About the Author - Phil Atkinson
is a former History teacher and Headteacher. He is President of
Rhymney RFC and Editor of 'Touchlines', the magazine of the Rugby
Memorabilia Society. He is the author of the Centenary
History of Rhymney RFC, joint author of The
King's Cup 1919: Rugby's First 'World Cup' and 'Rugby Union
Memorabilia: A History and Collectors Guide' by Amberley
Publishing.
