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 508 photos that were released to consumers between 1945 and 1964 and encompassing most of the “Original Six” era, considered to be the best period of time in the history of the National Hockey League.
“Oh my!” and “Whoa!” will likely be some of the reactions of both longtime pursuers of Bee Hive Group 2 premium photos and those who have often thought that owning them would be swell, but were always scared off by the colossal task of acquiring all that exist, upon learning of this sensational, years-in-the-making assembly that accounts for a near complete master set which includes most of the hard to find short prints. Highlights of the thought-provoking accomplishment are plenty and include some twenty+ down right rare examples and dozens and dozens of other tough and semi-tough pictures.
Featuring excellent black-and-white images that have been affixed to cream/beige coloured backings, the Group 2 photos are arguably the most popular of the three groups of Bee Hive photos produced by the St Lawrence Starch Company Ltd, with all of the game’s biggest stars of the era who helped usher in the new era of hockey, found throughout the checklist. Paced by a group of eleven (11) photos that have been freshly graded by SGC. Of note, due to the unique nature of the photos, the graders at SGC only authenticated the photos and did not assign them a numerical grade, a decision made by the lead graders at the company when reviewing a set for the first (1st) time. Among the photos that have be graded, included are the examples of; Wally Stanowski, Jerry Couture (error photo of Fern Gauthier variation – small stain at the bottom of the reverse), J. C. Tremblay (light area above boards variation), Gilles Tremblay (light area above boards variation), Eddie Shack (light background variation), Hart Trophy (four white borders variation), Calder Memorial Trophy (four white borders variation), Lady Byng Trophy (four white borders variation), Prince of Wales Trophy (four white borders variation), Vezina Trophy (four white borders variation) and of course, last but not least, the Stanley Cup (four white borders variation).
For the other better non-graded examples, all of the photos falling into this category are in what Bee Hive collectors would consider in nice collectible condition and are only exhibiting minor/light wear to the corners of the backings. Of note, if there are any defects to the photos and/or backings that we spotted, they are listed below. Additionally, due to the unique nature of the collection, it is possible we missed some replacement backings and/or reglued photos. Included in the group of notables are the photos of;
Bruins players; Norm DeFelice, Warren Godfrey ("W" left of skate variation), Joe Klukay, Cliff Pennington (script near skate variation), Bob Perreault (script overlaps stick variation), Terry Sawchuk, Don Simmons (error photo of Norm DeFelice variation) and Pat Stapleton (name near skate variation).
Black Hawks players; Murray Costello, Bobby Hull (number “9” jersey number variation), Chico Maki (script over stick variation), Joe Conn, Len Lunde (name away from stick variation) and Al Rollins (vertical image variation - photo reglued to the backing at all four corners, backside of the backing has some glue/paper residues).
Red Wings players; Jim Conacher, Gordie Howe (white sweater with "C" varitation), Gordie Howe (dark sweater variation), Bill Quackenbush, Jim Enio, Johnny Bucyk, Bud Poile (photo was reglued including on a spot on the right edge) and Glen Hall (photo has been reglued including at the lower corner as well - the reverse side of the backing has some paper/glue residues at the corners).
Canadiens players; George Robertson, Red Berenson (black script variation), Tod Campeau (backing has some folds/creases to its corners), John Hanna, Frank King (top right corner of the backing has a small stain), Eddie Litzenberger, Ross Lowe (has stamped name/address of the former owner on the back of the backing), Charlie Hodge (white script variation - photo has been reglued and has a vertical run of dried glue through the middle of the photo which has wrinkled it).
Rangers players; Larry Cahan (white sweater w/ name on right skate variation - has some surface wear and light soiling to the back of the backing), Johnny Bower, Howie Glover, Marcel Paille, Jacques Plante (has a few stains on the reverse side of the backing), Jean Ratelle (with "John" name variation - has a small handwritten "W" on the reverse side of the backing in red coloured pencil), Steve Kraftcheck, Gordon Labossiere (has a light fold in the photo and backing at the height of "Rangers" on the jersey), Max Bentley (has two creases to the backing at the bottom left corner) and Aldo Guidolin (reverse side of the backing has some stains).
Maple Leafs players; George Armstrong ("C" on sweater - light background variation), Jack Bionda, Pete Conacher (has "75" handwritten in pencil on the reverse side of the backing), Ron Hurst, Phil Maloney, Don Metz, Nick Metz (photo is partially unglued), Dave Reid (has "1953" handwritten on the backing below the photo in black liquid ink)
Plus the trophy photos of the Art Ross Trophy (photo has a few diagonal folds throughout, backing has a number of folds/creases and other defects), Calder Memorial Trophy (photo has a few fine short fold lines, backing has a few side-to-side fold lines/creases), Hart Trophy (photo was reglued, photo has a number of fold lines, backing has a few side-to-side fold lines/creases), Lady Byng Trophy (photo a a light fold line, backing has a few fold lines/creases in the corners areas), James Norris Memorial Trophy (backing has a set of staple holes at the top edge and a few small stains), Prince of Wales Trophy (backing has a set of staple holes at the top edge and a pin hole in each upper corner), Vezina Trophy (photo has a few horizontal side-to-side light fold lines which are also present on the backing) and of course, the Stanley Cup (photo is in fair condition with numerous defects but displays well, backing has a few side-to-side fold lines/creases). Of note, all the trophy photos listed above are the bottom white border variation.
For the rest of the lot, known to be missing photos such as those of Bill Gadsby of the Red Wings, Andy Bathgate (dark sweater variation) of the New York Rangers, Ray Ceresino of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1962-63 Maple Leafs team picture, the Art Ross Trophy (four white borders variation) and the James Norris Memorial Trophy (four white borders variation), 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; Jack Gelineau (has some stains on the photo), Jim Peters (backing has some dark stains), Gus Bodnar (backing has some stains, photo has some defects), Grant Warwick (some writing on back of backing which has rounded/worn corners), Ed Harrison (photo unglued from backing), Earl Reibel (has a handwritten "W" on the back of the backing), Black Hawks players; Jack Stewart (photo was reglued and has a partially erased handwritten "retired" just above the top edge of the photo), Jim Conacher (backing has some staining and wear), Gus Bodnar (backing has some surface wear/light staining), Doug McCaig (backing has a stain at the lower left corner on the front), Murray Hall (has a small handwritten "X" on the reverse side of the backing), Forbes Kennedy (photo has been reglued), Bill Gadsby (backing has a few small stains), Adam Brown (back of the backing sports handwritten text about his career), Pierre Pilote (has a light stain over the right edge area of the photo and on the backing), Ab McDonald (has a small stain at the top edge of the backing), Hank Cisela (backing has a number of different defects), Doug Bentley (backing has some defects including creases), Jim Henry (backing has light soiling and wear), Metro Prystai (the lower edge of the backing has two sets of staple holes) and Jim McFadden (photo has been reglued at all four corners), Red Wings players; Bob Goldham (photo was reglued and shows some defects), Bruce MacGregor (photo was reglued), Warren Godfrey (photo appears to have been reglued), Don Morrison (photo was reglued and matte has some soiling), Billy Dean (backing has some soiling), Al Arbour (backing has a crease at the bottom left corner), Clare Martin (backing has a few small creases at its corners), Harry Lumley (backing has a stain at its left front edge), Tony Leswick (backing has a few creases along its edges), Pete Babando (backing has some discolouration/light soiling), Pete Horeck (photo is partially unglued), Jimmy Peters (the reverse side of the backing has some soiling), Larry Zeidel (the backing has some creases along the top edge), Vic Stasiuk dark sweater full blade (the top left corner of the backing has a crease) and Vic Stasiuk (dark sweater and no stick blade visible variation - photo has been reglued at all corners - the reverse side of the backing has spots of dried glue/paper residues), Canadiens players; Joe Carveth (has "69" handwritten in pencil on back of backing), John Ferguson (possibly reglued photo which has a few folds at the top edge of it), Eddie Mazur (photo was reglued including at the bottom corners) and John McCormack (both sides of the backing have a few small stains), Rangers players; Pat Egan (photos has some stains), Jean Ratelle (photo was reglued and has fold lines), Phil Goyette (photo was reglued and not just at the top edge), Dean Prentice (white sweater - name low variation -backing has a crease at the bottom left corner), Leo Reise (reverse side of the backing has some soiling), Clint Albright (reverse side of backing has some stains), Reggie Sinclair (reverse side of backing has some soiling), Nick Mickoski (reverse side of backing has had his name handwritten), Bing Juckes (reverse side of the backing is stamped with the name/address of the former owner), Alex Kaleta (photo has some pressure point marks), Tony Leswick (reverse side of backing has some soiling), Jack Evans (name parallel to picture edge varitation - has a small "X" handwritten on the reverse side of the backing), Frank Eddolls (has light soiling to the reverse side of the backing), Bill Moe (reverse side of backing is stamped with the name/address of the former owner) and Lou Fontinato (photo was reglued including at the bottom corners and reverse side of the backing has some glue/paper residues), and finally, Maple Leafs players; Bob Dawes (photo has some "Waves" in its upper area), Bronco Horvath (has "11" handwritten in pencil on the reverse side of the backing), Marc Rheaume (has his career stats handwritten on the reverse side of the backing), Allan Stanley ("Alan" first name variation – reverse side of the backing has some stains), Fern Flaman (backing has some wear/folds to corners), Gus Mortson (backing has some wear/folds to corners), Jerry James (has an handwritten "W" on reverse side of backing), Leo Boiving (has a small ink stain on the reverse side of the backing), Frank Mathers (reverse side of the backing is stamped with the name/address of the former owner), George Armstrong (photo was reglued including at the bottom corners), Hugh Bolton (photo and backing have some folds/creases) and Al MacNeil (reverse side of backing has "11" handwritten in pencil).
A seldomly seen opportunity to acquire a full master set all in one shot, the Bee Hive Group Two (2) 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 are available (21) to be sent and additional photos of particular photos can be requested as well.
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