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The David France Collection
of Everton Memorabilia

 Detailed Catalog 
November 2003

 

 Introduction and Overview

  
David France is the founder of The Everton Former-Player's Foundation and Gwladys Street‘s Hall of Fame.  In addition, he has written nine best-selling books about Everton.  Dr France has returned to North America and has given Everton Football Club first refusal on his collection.

The collection is widely acclaimed by representatives of Christies and Sotheby’s as the most comprehensive compilation of football memorabilia ever assembled for any one club and includes:

  • over 6,000 Everton programmes dating back to pre-League football in 1886,
  • some 29 volumes of the ‘Everton Scriptures’ - the club ledgers dating back to 1887,
  • the first known photographs of an Everton team from 1881,
  • the original tender documents for the construction of Everton’s ground at Anfield, season tickets from the club’s pioneering days at Stanley Park, Priory Road and Anfield,

Plus much much more:

1 Everton Programmes

The Everton Programmes include approximately 6,065 programmes covering the club’s participation in league, cup competitions, friendly games and reserve-team fixtures (both at home and away) between 1886-2001.  It is the most comprehensive collection for any football club in the world.  Amazingly, it boasts 30 home issues and one away edition from the pre-League era.

Also the collection includes the oldest known programmes involving Manchester United (then Newton Heath) and Celtic from 1889.  Because Everton and Liverpool published a joint programme for 30 years from 1904, it also contains the majority of Liverpool pre-war programmes.

The collection incorporates every single Everton programme (both home and away) for the post-war era. Most of the home programmes are contained in bound volumes.  All of the away programmes are presented in binders.

2 Everton Ledgers

Acclaimed as ‘The Everton Scriptures’ by the Liverpool Echo, the official club ledgers consist of a complete run of 29 volumes chronicling all of the scheduled weekly meetings and emergency meetings of the early management committee and later board of directors from 1886 to 1964.  These ledgers have been also labelled the DNA of Everton Football Club and reflect the evolution of English football in general as well as the social and cultural changes on Merseyside.

3 Everton Medals

The Everton Medals include 40 medals covering all of the major competition won by Everton between 1890 and 1985.  The medals will not be included in the sale at this time.

4 Everton Tickets

The Everton tickets include of a run of 11 season tickets/members cards from the pioneering days from 1881 to 1892 and feature seasons at Stanley Park, Priory Road and Anfield.

5 Everton Photographs

The Victorian era photographs include the first known Everton team group
from 1881 and only known photograph of the first championship-winning side of 1891.

6 Other Ephemera

The collection of ephemera is diverse and includes:

  • official hand-written tenders for the construction of Anfield,
  • examples of players’ contracts from 1890-1940,
  • complete set of Everton cigarette cards (all known 300+ cards) from 1897-1939,
  • 20 Victorian era post-cards featuring early team groups,
  • several album pages of pre-war autographs and various examples of turn-of-the-century club correspondence. 

Other items include over 100 Everton books (every known volume), foreign tour itineraries, club function menus as well as club and international shirts and England caps.

  

 THE EVERTON PROGRAMMES (1886-2001)

  

Programmes from the early seasons include:

Everton v Astley Bridge 4 Sep 1886
Everton v Church 30 Apr 1887
Everton v South Shore 20 Aug 1887
Everton v Witton 27 Aug 1887
Lancashire v Dumbarton 22 Oct 1887
Everton v Bolton W FA Cup 29 Oct 1887
Everton v Bolton W FA Cup 19 Nov 1887
Everton v Bootle 3 Dec 1887
Everton v Notts Rangers 7 Jan 1888
Everton v Witton 14 Jan 1888
Stanley v Everton 21 Jan 1888
Everton v Burslem Port Vale 4 Feb 1888
Everton v Padiham 11 Feb 1888
Everton v Church 25 Feb 1888
Everton v Burnley 3 Mar 1888
Everton v Notts County` 10 Mar 1888
Everton v Derby County 17 Mar 1888
Everton v Aston Villa 24 Mar 1888
Everton v Bolton W 2 Apr 1888
Everton v Corinthians 4 Apr 1888
Everton v West Bromwich A 7 Apr 1888
Everton v Burnley 24 Apr 1888
Everton v Bolton W 2 May 1888
Everton v Blackburn Olympic 5 May 1888
Everton v Accrington 12 May 1888
Everton v Wolverhampton W 21 May 1888
Everton v Bolton W 2 May 1888
Everton/Bootle/Stanley v Mr Sudell’s Team 26 May 1888

Everton v Padiham 1 Sep 1888
Everton v Blackburn Olympic 3 Sep 1888
Everton v Halliwell 5 Sep 1888
Everton v Accrington (L) 8 Sep 1888 (first League game)
Everton v Stanley 13 Sep 1888
Everton v Notts County (L) 15 Sep 1888
Everton Res v Bootle Athletic 22 Sep 1888
Everton v Aston Villa (L) 6 Oct 1888
Renfrewshire v Liverpool & District 20 Oct 1888
Everton v Derby County (L) 27 Oct 1888
Everton v Bolton W (L) 5 Nov 1888
Everton Res v Saltney 17 Nov 1888
Everton v Burnley (L) 24 Nov 1888
Everton v Long Eaton Rangers 8 Dec 1888
Everton Res v Stoke Swifts 15 Dec 1888
Everton Res v Preston N E Res 22 Dec 1888
Everton v Ulster 25 Dec 1888
Everton v Bootle 26 Dec 1888
Everton v Blackburn Rovers (L) 5 Jan 1889
Everton v Stoke (L) 12 Jan 1889
Everton v Preston N E (L) 19 Jan 1889
Everton Res v Northwich Victoria Swifts 26 Jan 1889
Everton v Battlefield 2 Feb 1889
Everton v Wolverhampton W (L) 9 Feb 1889
Everton v Dundee Strathmore 16 Feb 1889
Everton v West Bromwich A (L) 23 Feb 1889
Everton v Halliwell 16 Mar 1889
Everton v South Shore 23 Mar 1889
Everton v Blackburn Rovers (L) 30 Mar 1889
Everton v Witton 6 Apr 1889
Everton v Northwich Victoria 10 Apr 1889
Everton v Bootle 13 Apr 1889
Everton v Newton Heath 15 Apr 1889
Everton v Burslem Port Vale 20 Apr 1889
Everton v Bolton W 6 May 1889
Everton Res v Davenham 11 May 1889
Everton v Blackburn Olympic 13 May 1889
Everton v Darwen 18 May 1889
Everton v Preston N E 20 May 1889
Everton v Bolton W 31 May 1889
Everton v Stanley 2 Sep 1889
Everton v Earlestown 4 Sep 1889
Everton v Blackburn Rovers (L) 7 Sep 1889
Everton v Burnley (L) 14 Sep 1889
Everton Res v Bolton W Res 21 Sep 1889
Everton v Bolton W (L) 28 Sep 1889
Everton Res v Birkdale 6 Oct 1889
Everton Athletic v Lancashire Nomads 10 Oct 1889
Everton Res v Turton 19 Oct 1889
Everton v Accrington (L) 26 Oct 1889
Everton v Stoke (L) 2 Nov 1889
Everton Res v Burnley Res 9 Nov 1889
Everton v Preston N E (L) 16 Nov 1889
Everton v Notts County (L) 7 Dec 1889
Everton Res v Blackburn R Res 14 Dec 1889
Everton Res v Preston N E Res 21 Dec 1889
Everton v Southport Central 25 Dec 1889
Everton v Bootle 26 Dec 1889
Everton Res v Blackburn R Res 28 Dec 1889
Everton v Aston Villa (L) 4 Jan 1890
Everton v Sheffield United 8 Jan 1890
Everton v Notts Rangers 11 Jan 1890
Everton v Derby County FA Cup 18 Jan 1890
Everton v Glasgow Rangers 15 Feb 1890
Everton v Kilbirnie 1 Mar 1890
Everton v West Bromwich A (L) 8 Mar 1890
Everton v Derby County (L) 15 Mar 1890
Everton Res v Wrexham 22 Mar 1890
Everton v Celtic 5 Apr 1890
Everton v Vale of Leven 12 Apr 1890
Liverpool & District v Birmingham & District 16 Apr 1890
Everton Res v Newtown 19 Apr 1890
Everton v Partick Thistle 26 Apr 1890
Everton v Preston North End 28 Apr 1890
Everton v Darwen 3 May 1890
Everton A v Clitheroe 10 May 1890 Everton v Burnley 12 May 1890
Everton v Sunderland Albion 17 May 1890
Everton v Birmingham St Georges 24 May 1890
Everton v West Bromwich A 31 May 1890

SUMMARY OF HOME PROGRAMMES BY SEASON

Most seasons include programmes for all known games. The number of
programmes per season are summarised:

1886/87 1 programme
1887/88 bound volume of Everton programmes 28 programmes
1888/89 bound volume of Everton programmes 32
1889/90 bound volume of Everton programmes 40
1893/94 1 programme
1895/96 1 programme
1896/97 1 programme
1904/05 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 47
1905/06 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 21
1906/07 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 29
1907/08 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 31
1908/09 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 8
1909/10 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 21
1910/11 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 7
1911/12 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 11
1912/13 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 23
1913/14 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 5
1914/15 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 14
1915/16 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 9
1916/17 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 3
1919/20 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 10
1920/21 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 7
1921/22 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 7
1922/23 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 14
1923/24 joint Everton & Liverpool home programmes 15
1924/25 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 51
1925/26 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 45
1926/27 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 45
1927/28 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 48
1928/29 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 47
1929/30 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 44
1930/31 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 45
1931/32 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 43
1932/33 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 47
1933/34 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 48
1934/35 bound volume of Everton & Liverpool home programmes 52
1935/36 bound volume of Everton home programmes 25
1936/37 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1937/38 bound volume of Everton home programmes 44
1938/39 bound volume of Everton home programmes 49
1939/40 bound volume of Everton home programmes 9
1940/41 Everton home programmes 2
1941/42 Everton home programmes 3
1942/43 Everton home programmes 5
1943/44 Everton home programmes 14
1944/45 bound volume of Everton home programmes 27

           War-time Everton baseball programmes 2

1945/46 bound volume of Everton home programmes 28
1946/47 bound volume of Everton home programmes 45
1947/48 bound volume of Everton home programmes 50
1948/49 bound volume of Everton home programmes 50
1949/50 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1950/51 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1951/52 bound volume of Everton home programmes 50
1952/53 bound volume of Everton home programmes 49
1953/54 bound volume of Everton home programmes 45
1954/55 bound volume of Everton home programmes 50
1955/56 bound volume of Everton home programmes 49
1956/57 bound volume of Everton home programmes 49
1957/58 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1958/59 bound volume of Everton home programmes 41
1959/60 bound volume of Everton home programmes 40
1960/61 bound volume of Everton home programmes 40
1961/62 bound volume of Everton home programmes 38
1962/63 bound volume of Everton home programmes 35
1963/64 bound volume of Everton home programmes 48
1964/65 bound volume of Everton home programmes 55
1965/66 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1966/67 bound volume of Everton home programmes 48
1967/68 bound volume of Everton home programmes 45
1968/69 bound volume of Everton home programmes 42
1969/70 bound volume of Everton home programmes 36
1970/71 bound volume of Everton home programmes 48
1971/72 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1972/73 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1973/74 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1974/75 bound volume of Everton home programmes 51
1975/76 bound volume of Everton home programmes 44
1976/77 bound volume of Everton home programmes 40
1977/78 bound volume of Everton home programmes 34
1978/79 bound volume of Everton home programmes 42
1979/80 bound volume of Everton home programmes 41
1980/81 bound volume of Everton home programmes 48
1981/82 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1982/83 bound volume of Everton home programmes 50
1983/84 bound volume of Everton home programmes 44
1984/85 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1985/86 bound volume of Everton home programmes 45
1986/87 bound volume of Everton home programmes 47
1987/88 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1988/89 bound volume of Everton home programmes 43
1989/90 bound volume of Everton home programmes 41
1990/91 bound volume of Everton home programmes 43
1991/92 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1992/93 bound volume of Everton home programmes 42
1993/94 bound volume of Everton home programmes 43
1994/95 bound volume of Everton home programmes 46
1995/96 bound volume of Everton home programmes 45
1996/97 bound volume of Everton home programmes 36
1997/98 bound volume of Everton home programmes 36
1998/99 bound volume of Everton home programmes 37
1999/00 bound volume of Everton home programmes 52
2000/01 bound volume of Everton home programmes 52

SUMMARY OF AWAY PROGRAMMES BY SEASON

1890/91 Walsall Town Swifts v Everton
1892/93 Preston N E v Everton FA Cup semi-final
1895/96 Walsall v Everton
1896/97 Nottingham Forest v Everton
1898/99 Everton away programmes 3 programmes
1899/00 Everton away programmes 2
1900/01 Everton away programmes 5
1901/02 Everton away programmes 2
1902/03 Everton away programmes 2
1903/04 Everton away programmes 2
1904/05 Everton away programmes 3
1905 Sport in Bohemia
1906/07 Everton away programmes 4
1907/08 Everton away programmes 6
1908/09 Everton away programmes 3
1909/10 Everton away programmes 5
1910/11 Everton away programmes 3
1911/12 Everton away programmes 4
1912/13 Everton away programmes 6
1913/14 Everton away programmes 3
1914/15 Everton away programmes 6
1916/17 Manchester U v Everton
1917/18 Everton away programmes 1
1918/19 Everton away programmes 2
1918/19 Everton away programmes 6
1919/20 Everton away programmes 5
1920/21 Everton away programmes 6
1923/24 Everton away programmes 5
1924/25 Everton away programmes 5
1925/26 Everton away programmes 8
1926/27 Everton away programmes 10
1927/28 Everton away programmes 7
1928/29 Everton away programmes 9
1929/30 Everton away programmes 11
1930/31 Everton away programmes 9
1931/32 Everton away programmes 12
1932/33 Everton away programmes 13
1933/34 Everton away programmes 8
1934/35 Everton away programmes 8
1935/36 Everton away programmes 17
1936/37 Everton away programmes 20
1937/38 Everton away programmes 12
1938/39 Everton away programmes 19
1938 Celtic v Everton Empire Cup final
1939/40 Everton away programmes 4
1940/41-44/45 Everton away programmes 29

1945/46 Everton away programmes 29
1946/47 Everton away programmes 32
1947/48 Everton away programmes 37
1948/49 Everton away programmes 33
1949/50 Everton away programmes 40
1950/51 Everton away programmes 33
1951/52 Everton away programmes 29
1952/53 Everton away programmes 37
1953/54 Everton away programmes 32
1954/55 Everton away programmes 29
1955/56 Everton away programmes 35
1956/57 Everton away programmes 37
1957/58 Everton away programmes 30
1958/59 Everton away programmes 38
1959/60 Everton away programmes 28
1960/61 Everton away programmes 46
1961/62 Everton away programmes 30
1962/63 Everton away programmes 35
1963/64 Everton away programmes 33
1964/65 Everton away programmes 37
1965/66 Everton away programmes 37
1966/67 Everton away programmes 36
1967/68 Everton away programmes 39
1968/69 Everton away programmes 34
1969/70 Everton away programmes 32
1970/71 Everton away programmes 36
1971/72 Everton away programmes 26
1972/73 Everton away programmes 29
1973/74 Everton away programmes 27
1974/75 Everton away programmes 27
1975/76 Everton away programmes 27
1976/77 Everton away programmes 40
1977/78 Everton away programmes 32
1978/79 Everton away programmes 34
1979/80 Everton away programmes 34
1980/81 Everton away programmes 32
1981/82 Everton away programmes 39
1982/83 Everton away programmes 44
1983/84 Everton away programmes 42
1984/85 Everton away programmes 39
1985/86 Everton away programmes 40
1986/87 Everton away programmes 44
1987/88 Everton away programmes 46
1988/89 Everton away programmes 44
1989/90 Everton away programmes 37
1990/91 Everton away programmes 50
1991/92 Everton away programmes 38
1992/93 Everton away programmes 39
1993/94 Everton away programmes 58
1994/95 Everton away programmes 61
1995/96 Everton away programmes 59
1996/97 Everton away programmes 55
1997/98 Everton away programmes 58
1998/99 Everton away programmes 58
1999/00 Everton away programmes 47
2000/01 Everton away programmes 43

  

  THE EVERTON LEDGERS (1886-1964)

  

The Everton ledgers represent the most complete documentation of the pioneering days and subsequent development of any football club.  They consist of a complete run of 29 volumes covering some 80 years from pre-League era chronicling all of the weekly scheduled and emergency meetings of the early Management Committee and later Board of Directors.

They are prepared and signed by legendary club officials such as John Houlding, George Mahon, Dr John Baxter, Will Cuff, Tom McIntosh, Theo Kelly and John Moores.  The volumes also include laid-down exhibits of club documents such as player’s rules, club by-laws and statements of accounts.

Because Everton were the last major club to appoint a manager, the ledgers detail all day-to-day decisions related to the development of the club.  Prior to 1939, the club directors were responsible for all team affairs as well as business issues, therefore the volumes document all decisions associated with scouting appraisals, transfer negotiations and all team selections.  They document the record deals associated with the buying and selling of bygone stars such as Nick Ross, Jack Southworth, Bert Freeman, Dixie Dean, Warney Cresswell, Cliff Britton, Joe Mercer, Tommy Lawton and Alex Young.  The volumes record the players’ wages, bonuses and benefits.  In addition to their successes on the field, the club is widely regarded as one of the most progressive leaders and innovators in football.

The ledgers document the move from Anfield, the construction of Goodison
Park, the first installation of floodlights and under-soil heating and the
comings and goings of Everton managers - Cliff Britton, Johnny Carey and
Harry Catterick - and the resulting recruitment of a legion of players.

Examples of some of the major events recorded in the volumes include:

  • Ledger A 1886-1891 … the founding of the Football League and preparations for the inaugural season.
  • Ledger B 1891-1892 … the clinching of the League title in 1891 and awarding of championship medals.
  • Ledger 1 1892-1898 … the build up to the acrimonious rent dispute associated with the Anfield ground, the consequent ground move and formation Everton Football Club Company. 
    • The funding and construction of Goodison Park.
    • The first FA Cup final appearance by a Merseyside club in 1893.
  • Ledger 2 1898-1903 … the first hosting of a FA Cup final by a League club.
    The annual selection of team colours before settling on blue and white in 1901.
  • Ledger 3 1903-1905 … the first overseas tour by an English club.
  • Ledger 4 1905-1907 … the first FA Cup final triumph by a Merseyside club in 1906.

Examples of more recent events recorded in the later ledgers include:

  • Ledger 24 1956-1959 … the introduction of ground improvements to accommodate over 78,000 fans and addition of state-of-the-art floodlights and under-soil heating.  The elimination of the maximum wage for professional footballers.
  • Ledger 25 1959-1964 … the first participation in Europe by a Merseyside club - Inter-Cities Fairs’ Cup and European Cup. Initial preparations for five World Cup 1966 ties at Goodison including the semi-final match

Gate Receipts Volumes
Also included are two volumes detailing gates receipts by turnstile numbers
for the following seasons
1907-1911
1916-1921

  

  THE EVERTON MEDALS

  
These include:
League champions 1890/91, 1914/15, 1927/28, 1930/31
1938/39, 1962/63, 1984/85
League champions (North) 1918/19
Division 2 winners 1931/32
FA Cup winners 1906, 1933, 1966 (two), 1984
FA Cup runners-up 1897, 1907, 1968
FA Cup Third Place tankard 1971
European Cup Winners-Cup winners 1985
Milk Cup runners up 1984
Charity Shield medal 1933
Charity Shield plaque 1963, 1966, 1968
Barcelona Cup 1924
Central League 1937/38 (three)
Liverpool Cup 1895, 1899, 1930, 1934
Lancashire Cup 1904, 1910, 1940
Blackpool Hospital Cup 1926, 1927
Norwich Hospital Cup 1907
Everton v Central League 1954
  

 THE EVERTON TICKETS

  


season ticket 1881/82 (at Stanley Park)
season ticket 1882/83 (at Priory Road)
season ticket 1883/84 (first season at Anfield)
season ticket 1884/85
season ticket 1885/86
season ticket 1886/87
season ticket 1887/88
season ticket 1888/89
season ticket 1889/90 (first championship season)
season ticket 1890/91
season ticket 1891/92
season ticket 1904/05

Cup final & semi-final tickets including the Empire Cup final in 1938 (60)

 
  

  THE EVERTON PHOTOGRAPHS

  

The Everton photographs include the following unique photos:
  • first known Everton team photo 1881 (2)
  • first championship team photo 1891
  

 THE EVERTON EPHERMERA

  

This includes autographs, books, postcards, cigarette cards, tender
documents, players’ contracts, foreign travel itineraries, club letters plus
shirts and international caps associated with Everton

AUTOGRAPHS
album pages 1930s x 6

BOOKS
‘History of Everton FC’ published in 1929
other Everton books (100 different books)

POSTCARDS
pre-war postcards featuring team groups from 1903-1920 (18 cards)

CIGARETTE CARDS
cigarette cards from 1897-1939 (all known cards total: 300)

OTHER EPHEMERA
Anfield construction tenders dated 1886 (2 documents)
players contracts from 1890-1975 (16 contracts)
postal covers from 1966 (50+ covers)
celebration menus from 1929 (10 menus)
club overseas travel itineraries from 1905 (10 itineraries)
club letters from 1903-1970 (approx 200)

EVERTON SHIRTS
Everton FA Cup final 1985 (Gray) plus 20 Everton team shirts 1985-2000
International shirts of Everton stars: England (Barmby), England U23 (West), Scotland (Hutchison), Portugal (Xavier)

ENGLAND CAPS
International caps of Everton stars: Makepeace 1906
Freeman 1909, Lawton 1938, West 1967, Stevens 1985
Chedgzoy (trial) 1920/21

  

 PRIVATE SALE OPTIONS

  

It is known that representatives of other leading clubs, museums and
memorabilia dealers in the UK and overseas have expressed interest in the
collection (it is anticipated that the latter would split up the collection
and resell the items at a huge profit).

Different options have been designed to maintain the integrity of the collection, hopefully for the benefit of future generations of Evertonians.  This most comprehensive Option A includes:

  • all programmes (approx 6,065 issues),
  • the ledgers and gate books (31 volumes),
  • the early photographs (3 photos),
  • the early season-tickets (11 tickets),
  • the Victorian postcards (18 cards),
  • the pre-war ciggarette cards (approx 300 cards)
  • and other unique ephemera (such as tender documents, contracts, letters and overseas itineraries).

The preliminary estimate of Option A is approximately £500,000.

At this time, the fair market value of the collection is being validated by
industry experts at Christies, Sotheby’s and Sports Programmes.

  
OK

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