John Wisden How to Play It" in 1866. In retirement he developed his business into a manufacturer and retailer of equipment for many sports, not just cricket. The shop moved to Cranbourn Street near Leicester Square in 1872. After his death the business grew into a major international sports brand, receiving a Royal Warrant in 1911 as "Athletic Outfitters to the King". The business went into receivership in 1939, and was acquired in 1943 by a Co-operative society, which sold it on to Grays of Cambridge in 1970. Grays then ceased to use Wisden as an equipment brand, but re-established John Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack are free of charge and open to all visitors (although its forum requires registration) while the latter charges a nominal annual membership fee for access to its main site. A "Wisden" archive is maintained by ESPNCricinfo (see External Links), offering access to some features, articles and international scores from the first edition onwards. The article "A History of "Wisden"" prepared for the 1963 centenary edition is likely to be of most interest to collectors who do not have access to the original volume. A combination of rarity (perceived or known), condition, completeness and originality determines the price a collector is