Historical Victorian photograph of lawn tennis at Strawberry Hill House circa 1874

Historical Victorian photograph of lawn tennis at Strawberry Hill House circa 1874 ,
a period sepia-toned photograph of a lawn tennis party at Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham, Middlesex, the lady seated behind the net being Frances, Countess Waldegrave (1821-1879) the owner of Strawberry Hill House and, most interestingly, recorded as the first person in the French & Co. Day-Book to purchase a “Large Set Tennis £10-10-0”, on 6th July 1874, the following July 1875 the Countess hosted a Garden Party at Strawberry Hill House attended by The Prince and Princess of Wales when “the lawn was arranged for tennis”, the image 22 by 28cm., mounted, overall 30.5 by 41cm., the lower margin inscibed in pencil “Strawberry”, tears to margins, image unaffected, slightly bowed, but overall in good condition for its age; sold together with a small reproduction glossy photographic portrait of Countess Waldegrave after the original in the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery dating to the 1840s (2)

French & Co. was located at 46 Churton Street in Pimlico, London, and were the agents to Major Clopton Wingfield for sales of his invention of “Sphairistike or Lawn Tennis” patented in February 1874. The “Large Set" refers to the the posts and netting in additon to the racquets, balls and rules.  The price of £10-10-0 is equivalent to a figure of over £1,500 today.

Literature:
The Birth Of Lawn Tennis, Robert T. Everitt & Richard Hillway, Vision Sports Publishing Ltd., updated edition 2024, pages 83, 84, 407 & 409.