Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction September 2024
One of the most comprehensive collections of Bee Hive Group 1 hockey photos is what we have the honor and pleasure of offering, with the assembler’s staggering jackpot truly a magnificent years-in-the-making accomplishment which merits admiration and which provides the hobby with a unique opportunity. Get this - all but four (4) of every single confirmed Group 1 Bee Hive photo, the likes of which originated at the St. Lawrence Starch Company in Port Credit, Ontario and which had consumers coveting Bee Hive Corn Syrup labels and other proofs of purchase, (so that they could mail them to the firm in exchange for the popular pictures), during the successful promotion’s first ten years, has been tracked down and acquired.
Featuring excellent black-and-white images that have been affixed to coloured backings, the Group 1 photos span from the years of 1934 to 1943, encompassing the many years leading up to as well as the first year of the National Hockey League’s “Original Six” era. Including all of the biggest stars of the era, spread throughout the entirety of the checklist that includes players of the Maple Leafs, Black Hawks, Bruins, Red Wings, Rangers and Canadiens as well as those of the Montreal Maroon and New York/Brooklyn Americans. Paced by a group of fifteen (15) 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; Jerry Brown of the Detroit Red Wings, Cy Wentworth of the Montreal Canadiens, Hazen McAndrew of the Brooklyn Americans, Joe Krol of the Brooklyn Americans, Dave Mackay of the Chicago Black Hawks, Gord Drillon of the Montreal Canadiens, Rhys Thompson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marty Barry of the Montreal Canadiens, Maurice Richard of the Montreal Canadiens, Earl Robinson of the Montreal Canadiens, Ken Mosdell of the Brooklyn Americans, Gaye Stewart (dark sweater variation) of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Babe Pratt of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Harry Watson of the Brooklyn Americans and Eddie Bush of the Detroit Red Wings.
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; Eddie Shore, Jack Schmidt, Yank Boyd (corners of the backing are rounded) and Don Gallinger
Black Hawks players; Fido Purpur (has a few small stains to the backing), Aud Tuten, Winky Johnston, Pete Palangio (small crease to the top left corner of the backing), Glenn Brydson (photo is unglued from backing), Joe Matte and Red Mitchel.
Red Wings players; Wilfred McDonald (pictured in Detroit Olympics sweater - photo has a light fold on its upper left corner so possibly reglued to the backing), Wilfred McDonald (pictured in Red Wings sweater - photo reglued to backing which has some stains and wear too the corners), Adam Brown, Connie Brown, Les Douglas, Bill Jennings, Doug McCaig and Pat McReavy (photo possibly reglued to backing which has a stain on its back and backing has some folds).
Canadiens players; Howie Morenz (photo is unglued from backing), Terry Reardon (backing has a few light stains), Gerry Hefferman (backing has a fold line on it upper left corner and small stains on its lower right corner area), Bill Summerhill, Louis Trudel, Leo Lamoureux, Pete Morin, Alex Singbush, Doug Young (photo has a small fold on it lower middle edge area), George Allan Brown and Buddy O'Connor (photo most likely reglued which has small, possibly dried glue, residues on various areas of its surface and has a small fold on its lower middle area, back of backing has glue residues on its corners areas).
Maroons players; Bill MacKenzie, Gus Marker (photo is unglued from backing), Max Kaminsky (backing has a long fold/some damage to its left edge), Dave Trottier (photo most likely reglued to the backing and upper area of the photo has some soiling, backing has wear to its corners and a fold line on its lower left corner area), Jerry Shannon (photo is unglued and comes with a new modern backing), Jerry Carson (photo was reglued to the backing and has some soiling on its upper area and a stain spot on its lower right corner area), Paul Runge (photo is unglued and comes with a new modern backing) and Carl Voss (backing has a crease on its lower right corner).
Americans players; Joe Lamb (photo has a few stains on various areas), Deed Klein, Allan Shields (photo has a few very light stains on various areas), Alfred Thurier and Charlie Rayner (back of backing has a handwritten "W").
Rangers players; Norman Burns, Norman Tustin, Bobby Kirk, Vic Myles, Red Garret (back of backing has glues residues on all corners), Jim Henry vertical, Jim Franks, Grant Warwick (backing has small folds to two corners), Gord Davidson (backing has wear/small folds to its corners and has a crease to its lower left corner) and Bob Kirkpatrick.
Maple Leafs players; Normie Mann (scripts overlaps stick variation - bottom edge of the backing has some defects), Bill Kendall, Ernie Dickens, Jack Forsey (backing has some light staining/soiling front and back), Melvin "Mel" Hill (photo is mostly completely glued to the backing), Geo. Boothman, Gaye Stewart white sweater(backing has fold/creases including on all corners), Jack McLean, Norman "Bud" Poile (backing has wear to its corners and has some stains front and back), Bob Goldham, Foster Hewitt (backing has a crease to its lower right corner) and Wes McKnight (photo is unglued from backing with evidence of a former photo also being mounted originally on the back of the backing).
Plus the trophy photos; Allan Cup (dated on back variation - backing has a fold along its upper edge), Byng Trophy (dated on back variation - photo has a light fold on its left side edge and backing has a stain on its lower right corner front and back), Calder Trophy (dated on back variation - backing has a stain on its lower right corner front and back), Hart Trophy (dated on back variation) Memorial Cup (dated on back variation - backing has a small stain on its upper right corner), Stanley Cup (dated on back variation - photo has a minor stain at the left side of the upper bowl), Vezina Trophy (dated on back variation - photo has a light fold on its middle left side area), Allan Cup (blank back variation), Byng Trophy (blank back variation) Calder Trophy (blank back variation - backing has a crease on its lower left corner), Hart Trophy (blank back variation - photo most likely reglued and back of backing has a small area with paper loss), Memorial Cup (blank back variation), Stanley Cup (blank back variation) and Vezina Trophy (blank back variation).
Known to be missing photos such as those of Larry Molyneaux of the Americans, the 1944-45 Toronto Maple Leafs team photo, the 1936-37 Winnipeg Monarchs team photo and the photo of the Stanley Cup that is the horizontal script with a blank back variation, the group also includes three (3) of the four (4) miscellaneous photos, missing just the photo of lacrosse player Wilfred McDonald while the one of Mickey Riley is on a new backing.
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, the group of photos with defects we spotted includes the like of Bruins players; Woody Dumart (photo reglued to backing), Bobby Bauer (photo reglued to backing), Melvin Hill (photo reglued to backing) and Alex Motter (photo reglued to backing), Black Hawks players; Alex Levinsky (photo reglued to backing), Louis Trudel (photo mostly unglued from backing), Lorne Chabot (photo unglued from backing), Doug Bentley (some defects to backing mostly at the edges and corners), Paul Thompson (photo most likely reglued to backing), Mush March (upper edge of the backing has a fold), John Mariucci (backing has some defects to the edges/corners) and Johnnie Gottselig (backing has some defects to edges/corners and a few light stains), Red Wings players; Herbie Lewis (photo unglued from backing), Pete Kelly (photo unglued from backing), Norman Smith (photo unglued from backing), Archie Wilder (photo has a two-inch fold line/crease), Modere Bruneateau (photo has a small fold at its left edge), Don Grosso (photo has a small light fold over its upper area), Syd Howe (photo has a few small folds/creases on its top edge area) and W.C. Kilrea (backing has some soiling/stains). Canadiens players; Murph Chamberlain (photo was reglued and has some glue residue spots on it, backing has a pinhole at the top and damage to its back), Pete Drouin (photo was reglued and has a number of light fold lines over its upper area plus the reverse side of the backing shows damage from photo that was previously mounted there), Rod Lorraine (photo reglued on a new modern backing), Charlie Sands (backing has some wear to its corners), Walter Buswell (backing has a fold to its upper right corner), Elmer Lach (photo has a long fold at its lower left corner with a few small spots of dried glue residue also showing on the front and back of the backing which has glue spots at all four corners), Cliff Goupille (photo has a small fold at its left edge), Joffre Desilets (photo is mostly unglued from the backing), Toe Blake (back of backing has a small spot of paper loss), Tony Demers (photo was reglued to the backing and not just on the upper edge area), Bert Gardiner (backing has some soiling/stains on both sides), Paul Bibeault (backing has small fold to its corners) and Aurel Joliat (backing has folds/creases to its corners), Maroons players; Bob Gracie (photo has some soiling and a few small folds), Jimmy Ward (photo has a group of small stains at its left middle area and the backing has some wear at its corners), Bill Beveridge (photo has two small spots of surface paper loss over its upper right area and the backing has some wear/folds to its corners), Baldy Northcott (photo has some staining along the upper edge, possibly from the photo being reglued to the backing), Earl Robinson (photo is unglued from backing and has a reddish stain at its bottom right corner area) and Tommy Cook (photo is unglued from backing and back of photo has evidence it was possibly reglued throughout at some point), Americans players; Johnny O'Flaherty (photo has a few small light folds and the back of the backing has some soiling), Eddie Wiseman (photo has a pair of fine folds in its upper right corner area), Wilfy Field (backing has some wear to its corners), Johnny Gallagher (photo is partially unglued from backing), Roy Worters (back of the backing has a few stains), Earl Robertson (back of the backing has name of the former owner stamped), Al Murray (back of the backing has name of the former owner stamped), Hap Emms (photo is partially unglued from the backing), Bill Benson (backing has folds at its corners), Tommy Anderson (lower edge of backing has a small stain) and Dave Schriner (back of the backing has name of the former owner stamped), Rangers players; W.D. Cook (photo is completely reglued to the backing which also has pinholes), Melville Keeling (photo partially unglued from the backing), Murray Murdoch (photo is reglued to a new modern backing), Phil Watson (backing has some stains) and Ivan Johnson (backing has some stains/soiling on both the front and back) and finally, Maple Leafs players; Jack Shill (backing has a stain at its lower edge), Andy Blair (photo completely reglued to the backing), Joe Primeau (photo reglued to the backing and not just on the top edge area), Chas W. Conacher (photo has a long horizontal fold line in the middle), Happy Day (photo was reglued to the backing at all four corners), Turk Broda (back of the backing has glue spots at all four corners), Dave Schriner (back of the backing has glue spots at all four corners), Jimmy Fowler (backing has some stains/soiling over both the front and reverse), Art Jackson (photo was reglued to backing including at the lower corners which are now unglued), Red Heron (backing has some stains, mostly over its reverse), Gord Drillon (backing has wear to its corners including creases at the bottom corners), Robert Copp (backing has some folds and a stain on its reverse) and Pep Kelly (photo was reglued to the backing including at the lower corners which are now unglued).
A seldomly seen opportunity to acquire a nearly full master set all in one shot, the Bee Hive Group One (1) series checklist is filled to the brim with players that helped establish the National Hockey League as the world’s premier hockey league 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 (29) are available to be sent and additional photos of particular photos can be requested as well.
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