Sir Donald Bradman & Wife, 1934
An original Evening News press photograph capturing Sir Donald Bradman alongside his wife during the height of his playing career, authenticated by PSA as a Type I original photograph and dated December 1934.
A rare personal moment from cricket’s greatest figure
Sir Donald Bradman stands alone in sporting history. His achievements, statistical dominance, and cultural significance place him not only at the pinnacle of cricket, but among the most extraordinary athletes of any discipline.
While Bradman is most commonly depicted in action at the crease, photographs showing him away from play — particularly in personal or domestic contexts — are markedly scarcer. This image presents a rare humanising counterpoint to the familiar competitive icon.
The artefact
This photograph is an original press image issued by the Evening News and authenticated by PSA as a Type I original photograph. It dates conclusively to December 1934, during a period when Bradman was firmly established as the dominant figure in world cricket.
The image captures Bradman and his wife in a candid public setting, offering a glimpse beyond the sporting arena and into the personal life of a figure who was already a national and international symbol.
Front of PSA-authenticated Type I original photograph showing Sir Donald Bradman with his wife, issued by the Evening News, December 1934.
Press photography and provenance
The reverse of the photograph bears the original EVENING NEWS COPYRIGHT stamp, date marking (18 DEC 1934), and contemporary editorial crop and sizing annotations. These markings are characteristic of working press photographs produced for newspaper publication.
Such editorial evidence is not incidental: in the field of photographic collecting, these elements form a critical part of provenance, confirming period use, originality, and authenticity.
Reverse showing Evening News copyright stamp, publication date, and editorial crop markings confirming press use in December 1934.
Why this photograph matters
This photograph occupies a rare intersection of subject, period, and originality. As a PSA-authenticated Type I press photograph of Sir Donald Bradman — captured away from competitive action — it offers both historical importance and narrative depth.
It is not simply an image of a sporting figure, but a contemporaneous document from the era in which Bradman’s legend was being actively written.
Availability
This artefact forms part of the CardHawk Vault, a curated archive of historically significant sports material selected for rarity, provenance, and long-term collector relevance.
View acquisition details on CardHawkUK →
PSA / PSA-DNA authentication enquiries
CardHawk provides specialist support for PSA and PSA/DNA authentication of original photographs and historically important sporting artefacts. Early press photography often requires careful handling and informed submission strategy.
If you hold original sporting photographs or documents you believe may be suitable for authentication, we welcome enquiries for an initial assessment.