Transvaal XV v England (‘British Lions’) 1903 picture: Fine rare original mounted, framed and glazed official photograph of the Transvaal (S Africa) rugby team who twice played the tourists in Jo’burg in August 1903. This team for 8th August match includes standing, far left, the famous J E C ‘Birdie’ Partridge, a Welshman who played for Newport, L Welsh, Blackheath, Pretoria Quins, Transvaal, the Army & South Africa; and for the Barbarians against Wales in 1915! He also had an England trial, helped found the Army Rugby Union, and refereed during the King’s Cup tournament in 1919, including (apparently badly!) the Final. Further intriguing figures in the picture are said to include James Hugh Sinclair (1st S African to score a century in a Test Match), Dr A Frew (3 caps for Scotland 1901, 1 cap for SA 1903), H H Ferris (4 caps for Ireland), W.M.C McEwan (16 Scottish caps1894-1900) and several others, including ‘Birdie’, who had, or were to, play for the Springboks. Image c.13” x 11”, overall c.20” x 16”. (VG)