Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction September 2024
One of the most popular collectibles of the Original Six era, Bee Hive hockey player photos produced by the St. Lawrence Starch Co. were a staple for Canadian youth/hockey fans, with this lot being offered here totalling out to 214 photos that were released to consumers in years that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup at seasons end. Proudly presented here for the first time ever in the history of Classic Auctions, we offering this Bee Hive group three (3) master set that consists of 214 photos in all and includes all the short prints that were available.
Featuring excellent black-and-white images and surrounded by visually pleasing woodgrain borders, the assembly is paced by a group of fifteen (15) photos that have been freshly graded by Beckett which includes the examples of 77B-Gordie Howe (EXCELLENT+ 5.5 – “C” on sweater variation), #67B-Alex Delvecchio (EX-MT+ 6.5 – away sweater variation), #41E-Bobby Hull (FAIR 1.5 – home portrait variation – hand penned notations over the reverse in blue ballpoint pen ink), #110B-Claude Larose (NEAR MINT 7 – reversed negative variation), #105A-Terry Harper (EX-MT+ 6.5 – posed variation), #104-John Hanna (NEAR MINT 7), #94B-Floyd Smith (VG-EX+ 4.5 – home sweater reverse negative variation), #80B-Eddie Joyal (EXCELLENT+ 5.5 – reversed negative variation), 187A-Ron Stewart (EX-MT 6 – number visible variation), 154A-Johnny Bower (NEAR MINT 7 – number visible variation), 163B-Billy Harris (NM-MT 8 – no number visible variation), 174A-Frank Mahovlich (EX-MT+ 6.5 – number visible variation), #166-Bronco Horvath (EXCELLENT 5), #51A-Eric Nesterenko (EXCELLENT 5 – light background variation) and #52A-Pierre Pilote (VG-EX 4 – home sweater variation). With all housed in Beckett holders, all remain in excellent condition with no major flaws observed.
For the other better non-graded examples, generally seen as being in a nice condition unless noted below and exhibiting only minor wear to the corners of all the included photos, included in this group of notables are;
Bruins players; Warren Godfrey, Wayne Connelly, Bob Perrault (punched holes along top edge), Andy Hebenton (punched holes along top edge), Cliff Pennington (punched holes along top edge) and Guy Gendron (punched holes along top edge and marks/stains over the reverse).
Black Hawks players; Bobby Hull (dark sweater variation – small fold/crease at lower left corner area and a small stain over the reverse in the middle of the lower edge), Bobby Hull (dark sweater image reversed variation - signed by Hull - has a pair of small folds to the bottom right corner), Bob Turner (has a number of folds/defects to the edges and corners), Murray Hall (glued paper residue on the reverse), Wayne Hillman, Fred Stanfield and Fred Stanfield (image reversed variation).
Red Wings players; Floyd Smith (white sweater variation), Bruce MacGregor (white sweater variation), Ron Ingram (low-grade condition with “waves” throughout, pinholes at the top and bottom edges and marks/tape residue on the reverse) and Alex Faulkner (pair of punched holes at the top edge).
Canadiens player; Gilles Tremblay (#24 on sweater sleeves variation)
Rangers players; Camille Henry, Gordon Labossiere (has small defects to the bottom corners and minor marks to the reverse), Jacques Plante and Larry Cahan (pair of holes punched into the top edge).
Maple Leafs players; Dave Keon (#14 on sweater sleeves variation), Bobby Baun (#21 on sweater sleeves variation – pair of fold lines at bottom left corner), Tim Horton (#7 on sweater sleeves variation – has marks over each corner from being in photo corners), Don McKenney (large image variation) and Bob Pulford (#20 on sweater sleeves variation)
Plus the trophy photos of the Lady Byng Trophy, the Calder Memorial Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy (has light surface wear/scuffing and a fine surface fold line at the lower right corner), the James Norris Memorial Trophy, the Vezina Trophy (has a small fold line at its lower left corner), the Hart Trophy, the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Stanley Cup and finally, the seldomly seen phot picturing Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion as coach of the AHL’s Quebec Aces.
For the rest of the lot, also generally in nice condition unless noted below, only exhibiting minor wear to the corners throughout the remainder of the set. Photos with defects we spotted includes Bruins players; Murray Balfour (has small folds to two of its corners), Reg Fleming (has a crease to its lower left corner and a small fold line to its upper left corner), Forbes Kennedy (has a crease to its lower left corner and fold marks/creases at two other spots), Parker MacDonald (has a small fold line to two of its corners), Ab McDonald (has a small fold line to two of its corners), Dean Prentice (has a small fold line to two of its corners), Ron Shock (has a small hit mark to its upper right corner) and Pat Stapleton (has a small fold line to its upper right corner), Black Hawks players; Wally Boyer (small hit mark at the top edge), Camille Henry (has a small fold line to the upper right corner), Bobby Hull (promoting Bee Hive syrup variation - has a light stain at lower left corner), Al MacNeil (has a one-inch fold line at its upper left corner), Johnny McKenzie (has a small fold line at the bottom right corner), Doug Mohns (has some fold lines/damage to its top left corner area), Matt Ravlich (has marks on each corner from being in photos corners) and Elmer Vasko (has marks on each corner from being in photos corners), Red Wings players; Roger Crozier (has a small fold line to its top left corner) and Parker MacDonald (has a crease over its top edge), Canadiens players; Dave Balon (has a fold line at the top left corner), Terry Harper (dark background variation - has a small crease at the bottom right corner), Charlie Hodge (has a small fold line to its top left corner) and Jean-Claude Tremblay (has a small crease at the bottom right corner), Rangers players; Wayne Hillman (has a small crease at the top left corner) and Cesare Maniago (has marks on each corner from being in photos corners), and finally, Maple Leafs players; Bobby Baun (no number on sweater sleeves variation - has marks on each corner from being in photos corners), Brian Conacher (has marks on each corner from being in photos corners), Bruce Gamble (has a small crease at its bottom left corner), Dave Keon (no number on sweater sleeves variation - has a small fold line at its bottom right corner), Ed Litzenberger (has some creases on the left side middle border), Frank Mahovlich (no number on sweater sleeves variation - has a small fold line at its bottom right corner), Don McKenney (large image variation - has "1964-65" handwritten on the reverse) and Allan Stanley (has marks on each corner from being in photos corners).
A seldomly seen opportunity to acquire a full master set all in one shot, the Bee Hive Group Three (3) series checklist is filled to the brim with players that helped the National Hockey League through its “Golden Era” and would eventually go on to be inducted into the hallowed halls of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sure to be a welcome home in any and all vintage collections, don’t miss out on this unique chance consisting of a fan favourite release!
Please take note that due to the nature and quantity of photos in this lot no returns will be accepted and the sale is final. Numerous photos (27) are available to be sent and additional photos of particular photos can be requested as well.
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