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From the collection of Tennis Australia

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Racquet, Feb 1874

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Physical description

A tilt-top Sphairistike lawn tennis racquet, with solid concave throat, leather crown protector, and white leather handle grip wrapped along almost the whole length of the shaft. Impressed inscription along throat and shaft on obverse: FRENCH & CO./46 CHURTON ST./LONDON/SPHAIRISTIKE. This historical racquet was literally one of the first lawn tennis racquets - sold as part of a lawn tennis set - to be produced by French & Co., upon the order of Major Wingfield, in anticipation of the patenting and publication of his game rules. Once the patent was granted, Wingfield had his rules published in two days, and had copies slipped into the already constructed French & Co. tennis sets, and from that point, the lawn tennis craze began. Materials: Wood, Lacquer, Glue, Metal, Gut, Leather, Ink