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K S Ranjitsinhji, The Jubilee Book of Cricket, Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1897

xvi + 474 pages, including single photogravure frontispiece of the author, 21 further photogravure plates after Lucien Davis and 85 full-page photographic (halftone) plates; original publisher’s full cream buckram with gilt title to spine and upper board, adorned with gilt and blue ribbon cricket motifs and gilted title at spine, top edge gilt, uncut edges
10.2 x 8.4 in (26 x 21.5 cm)

This is copy number 80 from a limited edition of 350 on hand-made paper signed by Prince Ranjitsinhji.

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO ENGLISHMEN, IN WHOSE COUNTRY I FOUND MY GAME.– K S Ranjitsinhji,

Published in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, The Jubilee Book of Cricket stands as a landmark in cricket literature, authored by one of the sport’s most graceful and celebrated figures—Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar, or Ranji, as he is enduringly known.

Regarded as one of the most gifted batsmen of the Golden Age of Cricket, Ranji played for England and Sussex with a style that was revolutionary for his time—his wristy flicks, especially the leg glance, redefined the aesthetics and strategy of modern batting. His book, however, is not merely a personal treatise or a coaching manual; it is a deeply reflective and literate study of the game, rich in analysis, technical exposition, and elegant prose.

Structured with a balance of instructional guidance and historical overview, the book includes commentary on the evolution of fielding positions, the psychological art of batting, and assessments of key county and international matches. The work is richly illustrated with 22 photogravure plates, including a full-length frontispiece portrait of Ranji in cricket flannels, 85 full-page photographic (halftone) plates, action photographs, diagrams, and scorecards—all printed to a remarkably high standard by William Blackwood and Sons.

Beyond its technical and aesthetic merits, The Jubilee Book of Cricket carries symbolic weight. As an Indian prince writing from within the heart of the British Empire, Ranji’s authorship of an English cricketing classic subtly challenges the racial and cultural boundaries of colonial sport. His dedication to “Englishmen” is at once gracious and politically resonant, positioning him as a cultural intermediary at a time when cricket was a tool of imperial identity formation.

The book's first edition is now rare, especially in collectible condition, and is a cornerstone in both cricket bibliography and postcolonial sport studies.

As Ranji was an Indian prince playing in the English national team, the book carries added colonial resonance. It subtly interrogates Englishness while celebrating the game as a space of both colonial assimilation and subversion.

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