Museum Grade 1924 Australian Rugby League Test Jersey & Rep Caps Johnny Hunt
Museum Grade 1924 Australian Rugby League Test Jersey and Representative Caps Johnny Hunt Collection
A remarkably complete and historically important collection relating to Australian and Queensland rugby league representative John "Johnny" Amos Hunt.
At the centre of the collection is Hunt's original 1924 Australian Test jersey, worn during the home Ashes series against the touring Great Britain team. More than a century old, it represents an exceptionally rare surviving piece from the formative years of Australian international rugby league.
The heavy knitted wool jersey is finished in maroon and pale blue horizontal stripes with a traditional cream cotton collar. Applied to the chest is its original cloth map of Australia crest, embroidered with a kangaroo, "Australia" and the date "1924". A large period number 3 is sewn to the reverse.
The original maker's label remains beneath the collar and reads "Pearson, Sydney Arcade, 114 King Street, Sydney".
The striped jersey corresponds with the one worn by Johnny Hunt in his surviving 1924 representative portrait, providing particularly important photographic documentation.
Johnny Hunt
John Amos Hunt was born in Cooktown, Queensland, on 5 December 1902 and attended Ipswich Grammar School.
A lightly built but highly regarded five eighth, Hunt represented Queensland from 1923 until 1925. His performances for Queensland earned him selection for Australia during the 1924 Ashes series against Great Britain.
Following Australia's defeat in the opening Test, selectors changed the Australian halves and selected Hunt alongside his Queensland teammate Duncan Thompson.
Hunt played five eighth in the remaining two Tests. Australia narrowly lost the second Test 5 to 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground before recording a famous 21 to 11 victory in the third Test at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground on 12 July 1924, before a crowd of approximately 39,000 spectators.
These were Hunt's two appearances for Australia.
He later served as a sports master at Ipswich Grammar School and Armidale Grammar School. Hunt died on 28 November 1984.
The collection includes
1. Johnny Hunt's original 1924 Australian Test rugby league jersey
Heavy maroon and pale blue striped knitted wool construction
Original embroidered Australia 1924 cloth crest
Large period number 3 sewn to the reverse
Traditional cream cotton collar
Original Pearson of Sydney maker's label
1. Two original representative honour caps
Both caps are constructed in maroon velvet with contrasting panels, metallic braid, embroidered decoration and tassels.
The caps are individually dated 1923 and 1925, corresponding with Hunt's Queensland representative career.
Both retain their original D. S. Carter, Brisbane, maker's labels.
1. Queensland Rugby League presentation badge
A later Queensland Rugby League presentation badge housed in its fitted case.
1. Queensland Rugby League certificate
Dated 2 July 2011 and issued in honour of Johnny Hunt, recognising his achievement in representing Queensland and his contribution towards the establishment of rugby league as part of Queensland culture.
The certificate is signed by Queensland Rugby League Chairman John McDonald AM and Managing Director Ross Livermore.
Provenance
Originally belonging to John "Johnny" Amos Hunt and retained as a collection of his representative rugby league memorabilia.
Harrington & Co first handled and sold this extraordinary collection approximately ten years ago. It has now returned to the market through Harrington & Co.
The jersey is supported by surviving photographic documentation showing Hunt wearing the distinctive striped Australian representative design. Courtesy of the State Library of Queensland, Negative No. 135503.
Condition
The jersey remains in original, unrestored condition and displays considerable age and genuine playing wear.
There is fading, discolouration, staining, scattered moth damage, small holes, pulled threads and areas of historic wear throughout. The cream collar is stained and discoloured. The Australia crest and rear number show fading, creasing and age related deterioration.
Both honour caps display fading, wear to the velvet, tarnishing and losses to the metallic embroidery, deterioration to the tassels and staining and wear to their interior linings.
These imperfections are consistent with sporting garments and textiles now more than 100 years old. They form an important part of the collection's authenticity and history. Prospective purchasers should inspect all photographs carefully as they form part of the condition report.
Significance
Very few Australian Test jerseys from the 1920s remain in private hands. Fewer still survive with their original dated crest, maker's label, representative caps, documented player attribution and supporting Queensland Rugby League material.
This is not a Kangaroo touring jersey. It was worn during the 1924 home Ashes series and is directly connected with Hunt's two Australian Test appearances, including Australia's celebrated victory over Great Britain in Brisbane.
An exceptional museum grade collection from the earliest years of Australian Test rugby league, offered intact for the serious collector, sporting institution or museum.
Worldwide delivery can be arranged. Due to the historical importance and fragile nature of the collection, please contact us to discuss insured delivery or private collection.
HNCO are not responsible for import duties, tariffs or customs charges. This is the buyers / importers responsibility.
_gsrx_vers_1736 (GS 9.9.5 (1736))
