Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/2/2023
A complete set of the very first hockey cards, available to consumers in packages of cigarettes well over 100 years ago and offered to serious collectors here constitutes a hobby happening, with several of the men responsible for making early professional hockey a happening featured amid the three dozen well-preserved darlings. Having all been freshly graded by PSA and recently received back from their headquarters, we are thrilled to share that 26 of the 36 offerings that make up the offered complete assembly have earned grades of VG-EX or better. All designated as rookie cards, the first group of eight (8) PSA slabs housing the cards of some of the most prominent hockey forefathers to be featured on the small cardboard specimens is lead condition-wise by card #8 of Art Ross who has earned a VG-EX+ 4.5 for his effort and is followed close behind by VG-EX 4’s of Ross’ other card in the set as well as the leadoff card of Frank Patrick and card #26 of his brother, Lester Patrick. Card #26 of Paddy Moran is the lone VG+ 3.5 of the “elite eight” first grouping and is followed by #36 of Newsy Lalonde at GOOD+ 2.5, #15 of Fred “Cyclone” Taylor at GOOD 2 and lastly, goaltender Percy Lesueur, who has also garnered a GOOD 2 as well. For the remaining twenty-eight (28) pre-war survivors, the examples of HOFers #9 Angus Campbell, #21 Jack Laviolette and #23 of Didier Pitre have all earned astounding designations of EX-MT 6 with the Laviolette examples being the 2nd highest ever graded by PSA, bettered by only one (1) NM 7. Moving down the impressive list, those earning very respectable marks of EX 5 include #3 of HOFer Gordon Roberts, #6 of Edgar Dey, #13 of Ed Decary, #17 of HOFer Bruce Stuart, #18 of Nick Bawlf, #29 of C. Toms and #30 of HOFer Ernest Johnston while Barney Holden’s example, found as card #4 in the set, has been deemed worthy of a VG-EX 4.5. Moving onto the accompanying group of VG-EX 4’s, those present with the designation include #4 of Pud Glass, #10 of HOFer Harry Hyland, #11 of Herb Clark, #14 of HOFer Tom Dunderdale, #16 of HOFer Joseph Cattarinigh (builder), #19 of Jim Jones, #20 of HOFer Ernest Russell, #24 of Skinner Poulin, #25 of Art Bernier, #27 of Fred Lake and lastly, #31 of Horace Gaul. For the last of the slabs, #7 of HOFer Marty Walsh, #22 of HOF Riley Hern, #32 of Harold McNamara and #35 of HOF Jack Marshall all show VG 3 marks over their labels while the final graded card, #34 of Bruce Ridpath, shows with a FR 1.5 notation. Of note, card #33 of the set picturing HOFer Jack Marshall was also sent in to be encapsulated and graded but came back labelled as miscut and not holdered after its assessment. A true treasure to behold that is worthy of serious consideration.
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