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Lillywhites - Guides Companions (Greens) & Annuals (Red).

Specialists in the Annual that started in 1848 and ended in 1900.

Lillywhite Guides , Lillywhite Companions, Lillywhite Annuals.

A lot of Wisden collectors also collect Lillywhite's , I have a few of them and here is our guide to Lillywhite's , any questions, please ask. 

A link to our spares are at the bottom of this page.

There are three series of Lillywhite's starting with the rarer guides then into the Companion and finally the more common Annual. They cover cricket from 1848 to 1900. 

Guides (Fred’s Guide)

• The Guides were the first series, published between  1849 & 1866.
• Fred Lillywhite (Aged 19) Edited the Guides until his death in 1866 (@ 37). He fell out with the MCC in 1865.
• It was called "The young cricketer's guide, containing full direction for playing the noble and manly game of cricket by William Lillywhite" (The "Nonpareil" or father of Fred  who was the youngest of his 4 ) 
• The first 2 editions, it was then called “Lillywhites Guide to Cricketers by Frederick William Lillywhite”
• Although 24 editions it only covers 15 seasons, as more than 1 edition some years, they are not uniform like Wisden and so the Guide to the Guides by Smith is very helpful
• The first two Editions are very rare and worth (ten+) thousands, the second edition is the same as the first but with an errata slip within it.
• The 6th Edition is the rarest and 5 figures will be needed to buy it. Padwick wrote it out by hand as he couldn't find a copy.
• Other hard to find editions are 9 and the last “one” [“one” in quotes because the last 2 are near identical both and both hard to find].
• All guides are worth hundreds. Some Thousands and the rare ones over Ten Thousand.
• Only a handful of full sets are known, I own 21/24. 

 Companions (Green Lilly)

• The Companions, The Green Lillies started in 1865 and ended in 1885
• One book per year here, called the Green Lilly as the covers are green.
• The Green Lilly absorbed the Guide in 1867
• 1865 is very hard to find and worth £1000
• Most Greens are under £100 but 1860s & 1875 tend to break this.
• Called initially ”John Lillywhites Cricketers Companion” .John was an umpire , batsman and older brother of Fred. In 1880 the title was expanded to John and James Lillywhite’s Cricketers Companion and then contracted to James Lillywhite’s Cricketer’s Companion in 1883.

Annuals (Red Lilly)

• Ran from 1872 to 1900 and called the Red Lilly due to the red covers. (Covers are harder than the Greens)
• Incorporated the Green Lilly in 1886.
• From 1876 it has a picture inside that have been removed in cases as at one time the picture would fetch more at auction than the book itself!
• Edited by Surrey Secretary Charles Alcock (*)
• Called " James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
• Nephew of Fred
• 1872 is hardest to find at around £300
• Most Red Lillies are under £50, 1870s are the hardest to find. 1875 like in Wisden was my last annual to be found.

(*) Charles Alcock also edited John Lilywhite's Football Annual in 1868 which was called The Football Annual from 1869 to 1908 and look like the red lilly. Let me know if you own any of these! (Thanks Mike for checking my notes and Andy for the Alcock info).

We have a Lilly distribution list , please reply if you would like to be part of it. Or if you have any questions.

Happy Collecting.

Chris Ridler.