Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
Leading the fabled Silver Seven to three consecutive Stanley Cup championships as a player-coach in the first decade of the 20th century, Alf Smith first dressed for the Ottawa Hockey Club in 1894, and later suited-up for the world champion Kenora Thistles after the club was challenged by the Montreal Wanderers, in 1907. We have an exceptionally rare cabinet photo of the early Hall of Fame superstar, originating from the collection of the former curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Lefty Reid. At approx 4” x 5 ½” and affixed to a slightly larger mount at 5 ¼” x 7 ½”, Smith is pictured in his Ottawa wool, with the image originating from the early-1900s. Featuring especially sharp clarity, the photo was snapped by noted Ottawa lensman Pittaway, with their monogram over the lower right. We cannot stress enough the utter scarcity of quality imagery of early hockey stars, especially prominent Hall of Fame members who represented historic clubs in the 19th century.
The photo display wonderfully with no issues, with some toning and surface/corner wear to the mount including a few pinholes. There is also text handwritten in blue marker over the reverse, along with a pair of inventory numbers from the original HOF.
Taking what he described as "a basement full of old sticks and pucks" to create a world class museum after the retirement of the Hall of Fame’s first curator, Bobby Hewitson, in 1967, Maurice H. "Lefty" Reid was raised in Leamington, Ontario, and began volunteering at the Hockey Hall of Fame after moving to Toronto where he worked as a sports layout editor, at The Toronto Telegram. Serving as secretary for the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee as well as curator during his tenure at the Hall, Reid also held many positions with ASMHOF (Association of Halls of Fame and Museums) including President and Vice President. Later honoured with a key to the city of Peterborough after voluntarily helping to create a new sports hall of fame in the locale, Reid was honoured with induction into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame, in 2006.
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