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Complimentary Copies

Throughout the history of Wisden it is accepted that presentation copies have been given, whether to the Cricketers of the Year, to the MCC or other notable dignitaries. For instance in 2010 both the Australia and Pakistan players were given commemorative editions to mark the Lords Test match between the two countries. The touring teams up until the late 1980s were also presented with a Wisden, not a leather-bound copy or housed in a presentation slipcase, but on its own.

Rumours have been rife that from the 1915 edition (up to & including 1963) Wisden distributed over 1,000 editions each year free of charge to amongst others:

  • The Commonwealth cricketing authorities
  • The Public Schools
  • The Counties
  • MCC members of long standing
  • During WW1 and WW2 former Public School Cricketers who were serving as Officers
  • Review copies and to advertisers (around 250 in total)

In the first collectors’ guide the WCC produced in 2013 this figure was quoted as 3,000. I now believe this to have been an error. A look at the post war Wisden accounts gives no specific print numbers but working backwards

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