Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction June 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/15/2016
With the retiring of Jean Beliveau in 1971, the fans in Montreal were awaiting a new hero to carry their team through the new decade. Montreal had enjoyed a deep history of French Canadian superstars with names like Richard and Beliveau. Along came Guy Lafleur! The Seventies brought an era where the Canadiens were the dominant team in pro hockey, and Lafleur eclipsed Bobby Orr as the game's dominant player. He would go onto lead the league in scoring the next three years in a row, and recorded an amazing 6 consecutive years with at least 50 goals. Twice he was named as the NHL MVP and three times he was awarded the Pearson Trophy. He helped lead the Habs to five Stanley Cup Championships, including four straight to end the decade.
Offered is an incredible and significant early tie-neck Montreal Canadiens uniform worn by one of the most exciting players of the Seventies, Guy Lafleur. The tie-neck styling retains the original white lace running through the eyelets and a torn and tattered Wilson label with the earlier blank size box is sewn into the collar. A vintage garter piece is sewn into the tail and functions as a fight strap. Two-tone tackle twill number 10 is sewn high up each arm and the number appears again on the back of this pre-name-on-back jersey. Game wear is not hard to find and includes two stitched team repairs on each sleeve, three more on front of jersey, one on back and another on the left shoulder. Numerous stick marks appear up and down the arms and again on the lower front. Faded pinkish-red stains are at the right elbow and a small rust-colored stain is there on the lower back. A larger area of exterior pilling is spotted on the lower right side beneath the arm. Conclusively photo-matched to an action shot from the 1972-73 season to an image showing Guy wearing this jersey with the white laces while wearing a helmet (he stopped wearing a helmet by the start of the 1973-74 season). The photograph reveals distinct characteristics found on the jersey including a semi-circular mark just above the red cuff on the right arm and a few of the black marks that appear on the shirt are also visible on the photo. The reddish repair above the cuff on the left sleeve is also matched. A digital image of the photograph used to make the comparisons will accompany the lot.
This impressive jersey was originally held privately, out of the gaze of the hobby, since the 1970s when a father, and Habs fan, obtained it through a friend with ties with the Montreal Canadiens organization and gifted it to his son, our consignor. Without a doubt, this is the most amazing Guy Lafleur Montreal Canadians uniform we have ever had the opportunity to handle. Will come with a letter of authenticity, in addition to the above-mentioned photographic evidence.
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