In the period between 1864 to 1889, before the start of the formal County Championship, the sporting press had selected the season's champions. In the mid 1870s the press instigated some sort of merit table, but there was not much consistency in the method used for calculating the champions or even in which matches to include.

Usually, the team with fewest defeats was awarded the Championship, but by the mid 1880s a points system was being used - usually one point for a win and half point for a draw.

The table gives the champions as quoted by different sources. It shows that although mostly there was general, if not universal agreement, sometimes there was a confusing diversity of views.

(RB) - Rowland Bowen, cricket historian
(W) - Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
(CC) - John Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion (incorporating Frederick Lillywhite's Guide to Cricketers)
(CA) - James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual
(WG) - W.G.Grace
(RH) - Rev R.S.Holmes, cricket historian
(Ba) - Baily's Magazine
(Cr) - Cricket Magazine