W.G. Grace Filoscope Film

Two cricketing legends captured on an early home movie device

These images show WG Grace and Prince Ranjitsinhji, two of the greatest batsmen the sport of cricket has ever known. The images are taken from a Filoscope, a flip-book produced by Harry Short from films shot on film (often by his friend Robert William Paul, although in this case we can't be sure). Filoscopes were intended for wide distribution and personal use and so can be considered an early form of home movie device. No wonder, then, that the most popular subjects were sporting heroes like WG Grace.

It's thought that these images were taken in June 1899 before Grace's final test appearance.