[Z] [Cricket] Belcher (W.) and others The Galaxy

[Cricket] Belcher (W.) and others The Galaxy. Consisting of a variety of sacred and other poetry. The whole original and new. By W. Belcher and others. Rochester: by W. Gillman at the Phoenix Printing Office, sold by James Evans, 1790, 4to, attractive 20th century half calf and marbled boards, title inscribed for 'Geo: Gordon', library stamps for 'DeMilt Bequest 1845' and other library stamps and markings; contains Rowe (Hannah) A Pindaric Poem, Rochester: by W. Gillman, 1789, Free versions of some Passages of the Prophets, Rochester: by W.Gillman, 1789, Poems on Various Subjects, Rochester: W. Gillman, 1790, The New Arcadia, Rochester, 1790, The Je new Scai Quoi, Rochester, 1790

Footnote:

A similar volume sold Christie's, 13 Jul 2016, £4,375

The cricket content is towards the end, in “Poems on Various Subjects”. Pages 41 and 42 of this section have a poem headed “CRICKET”, with a short preface: “Being a game peculiar to Kent, and a few other counties, I subjoin a short description of it, by way of episcode (sic), or rather detachment.”
The poem starts:
“Describe, my quill,
In Cricket skill.
Twin’d bat recite
Both strong and light,

The swift ball’s bound
On shaven ground,
The pile and cross
Or copper’s toss,
The straight stumps plac’d
And body grac’d.”

The Rochester anthology is rare. It is not in the MCC collection, and is held at only two institutional libraries worldwide, the BL and St. John's College, Cambridge. No other edition of 'Je ne scai quoi' is known. [Padwick 6385, ESTC T126043]

A similar volume sold Christie's, 13 Jul 2016, £4,375

The swift ball’s bound
On shaven ground,
The pile and cross
Or copper’s toss,
The straight stumps plac’d
And body grac’d.”

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Auction: The Childhood Auction | The Cricket Auction, 28th Oct, 2025

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