Autographs of John Arlott

Leslie Thomas John Arlott, OBE (25 February 1914 – 14 December 1991) was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet and wine connoisseur. With his poetic phraseology, he became a cricket commentator noted for his "wonderful gift for evoking cricketing moments" by the BBC.
John Arlott was born in 1914 at Cemetery Lodge, Chapel Hill, Basingstoke in Hampshire, the son of cemetery registrar William John Arlott and Nellie (née Jenvey-Clarke). He attended Fairfields Primary School in Basingstoke before winning a scholarship to Queen Mary's Grammar School. Once at the school, however, he became embroiled in a feud with the headmaster, as the school "had not been wholly receptive to his young, independent, inquiring mind." Arlott eventually left the school of his own accord. He meanwhile showed an early interest in the local cricket matches; in 1926 he watched England and Australia play at The Oval, becoming a fan of Jack Hobbs, and later watched Sussex play Lancashire.
After leaving school, following a brief stint at the local town hall where he learned to type, he spent four years working at Park Prewett Mental Hospital in Basingstoke as a records clerk (1930–34). His friend David Rayvern Allen noted that it was there that "he discovered humanity in often dislocated forms, was fundamental to his personal development." This was followed by twelve years as a policeman (1934–1946) in the Southampton County Borough Police Force, which later amalgamated with the Hampshire Constabulary in 1967. He progressed to the rank of sergeant while stationed at Southampton, and enjoyed the opportunity to watch Hampshire play at the County Ground while on duty at Northland Road. Though his cricket skills were not sufficient to play for the Southampton Police cricket XI, he was called upon at times to utilise the PA-system. He also studied Russian language and military history at the library of Southampton University, wrote reports for his chief constable, gave lectures to students, wrote poetry, and took up boxing, at which he was quite proficient.
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Traded items with a signature of John Arlott

The most expensive item with a signature of John Arlott (The Rock Pool signed by Cyril Connolly to John Arlott 1st / 1st 1936) was sold in April 2020 for £550.00 while the cheapest item (Arlott on Cricket: His Writings on Cricket - Signed by John Arlott (1984)) found a new owner for £0.99 in March 2016. The month with the most items sold (7) was March 2023 with an average selling price of £25.00 for an autographed item of John Arlott. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in April 2020 with £550.00 and the month that saw the lowest prices with £3.20 was December 2020. In average, an autographed item from John Arlott is worth £21.69.

Most recently, these items with a signature of John Arlott were sold on eBay - click here for more items.

Picture	Item Title	Price	Store
	An Eye for Cricket by Patrick Eagar & John Arlott, 1979 Hardback - SIGNED	£23.37
	An Eye for Cricket by Patrick Eagar & John Arlott, 1979 Hardback - SIGNED	£23.37
	Hampshire County Cricket 1958 *SIGNED* John Arlott The Sportsman Book Club	£28.54
	Hampshire County Cricket 1958 *SIGNED* John Arlott The Sportsman Book Club	£28.54
	Hampshire County Cricket. SIGNED by John Arlott Hardback 1958	£14.18
	Hampshire County Cricket. SIGNED by John Arlott Hardback 1958	£14.18
	Hampshire County Cricket. SIGNED John Arlott 1st Ed 1958 Phoenix Sports Hardback	£24.43
	Hampshire County Cricket. SIGNED John Arlott 1st Ed 1958 Phoenix Sports Hardback	£24.43
	Herbert E. Palmer Signed manuscript poem Letter & book Signed to John Arlott	£155.00
	Herbert E. Palmer Signed manuscript poem Letter & book Signed to John Arlott	£155.00
	JACK HOBBS - PROFILE OF 'THE MASTER' BY JOHN ARLOTT - SIGNED BY AUTHOR	£6.19
	John Arlott - Days At The Cricket Signed HB Cricket 1st Edtn Book From 1951	£14.95
	John Arlott - Days At The Cricket Signed HB Cricket 1st Edtn Book From 1951	£14.95
	My Favourite Cricket Stories by John Arlott 1st Edition Signed + Receipt Letter	£24.86
	My Favourite Cricket Stories by John Arlott 1st Edition Signed + Receipt Letter	£24.86