The reason for this card was simply the number, 100 of 100.
The set is very attractive but not well designed as the grass is often too dark to read the signature, though the name dies appear on the reverse hand side.
Our man M.J. G. (or Major Josiah George) Ritchie was a tennis player of considerable skill and won three medals at the 1908 Olympics which were held at White City, just outside London. However the tennis was not held there, it was split into two groups, the outdoor matches at Wimbledon and the indoor at Queens Club. Mr. Ritchie, for Major was his christian name not his military rank, played at both grounds. He won both the gold for the men`s singles and the silver for the men`s doubles at Wimbledon, and the bronze for mens singles at Queens. In fact the next Briton to win an Olympic singles medal was Andy Murray, at another London Olympics, in 2012. and the match was also at Wimbledon.
Mr. Ritchie also played at the more usual, non Olympic Wimbledon tournament, his first one was in 1902, and he won the doubles twice, in 1908 and 1910. He also played at Queens Club, in 1920, when he was fifty years old.
He was also keen on sailing, rowing, and table tennis, rising to become the secretary of its organising body, the Table Tennis Association. He wrote several books on sport, and was one of the few people to be proficient enough to write on both table tennis and lawn tennis. He was quoted as saying the basic game is much the same apart from the strength of serve.
You can read more about this set at pre-war cards and see the two different styles of back. We will discuss this further in our weekend newsletter.