Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2024
Serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, Gordie Drillon spent the majority of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning the NHL scoring championship in 1938. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a vintage photo signed by the Lady Byng Trophy-winner. At 6 ½” x 8 ½”, Drillon is pictured in an on-ice pose in his Leafs uniform with McNiece & Orchard stick. Gordie signed over the left in dark ink, adding a personalization to Hamlyn, with the "Drillon" part of the signature a bit light due to the writing instrument. There is typed text on the reverse, with the photo apparently signed in 1941. Exhibiting some toning and surface wrinkles, there is also some wear to the corners, with two small spots of glue residue over the reverse. Joining the membership of the HOF in 1975, Drillon would sadly pass in 1986, at the age of 72.
Beginning life as the passion of one youth growing up in Newfoundland during the late-1930s, ER Hamlyn was bitten by the collecting bug as a teenager, and began to seek out the signatures of both contemporary and past hockey stars, with his efforts culminating in the world class collection of signed photos and letters that encompass his incomparable autograph collection, with many unique items and extremely rare signatures making up the vast collection.
Through effective letter writing, first to teams, and then when information was received, directly to the players themselves, Hamlyn would request the addressed parties sign a photo he himself would provide, with the overwhelming majority honoring the enthusiastic collector's wishes. And enamored with the uniforms of both the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans – despite never seeing these teams play in person, Hamlyn had the foresight to seek out the signatures of past retired stars from long forgotten and defunct franchises. The insightful collector also recorded information now invaluable to his collection, with most of the signed letters and photos having dates listed when they were received back signed.
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