Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction June 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/27/2023
An absolute goldmine for all lovers of vintage cards and especially those that chase pre-war offerings, is this jackpot of little sepia-tone treasures issued by Hamilton, Ontario’s Tobacco Products Corporation of Canada Limited in the form of this complete assembly of 1924-25 Champ’s Cigarettes C144 tobacco cards. Unnumbered but totalling 60-cards, the set features one third of its checklist having been freshly graded by PSA. Led by the “Big Three” of the Montreal Canadiens, the cardboard of HOFers Howie Morenz (PSA EX 5), Aurel Joliat (PSA EX 5) and Georges Vezina (PSA EX-MT 6) as well as the card of rugged Senators blueliner, King Clancy (PSA NM 7), this astonishing set of cards bring up the question of Champ's or Champs, since newspaper ads back in the day, along with actual cigarette packs, feature "Champs" while the back of the cards themselves reading "Champ's Cigarettes." For the rest of the graded cards, specimens housed comfortable in their holders for preservation and display include the likes of Hooley Smith (RC – HOF – PSA VG-EX 4), Alex Connell (RC – HOF – PSA VG-EX 4), Cy Denneny (HOF – PSA VG-EX 4), Billy Burch (HOF – PSA EX 5), Frank Finnigan (RC – PSA EX 5), Frank Nighbor (HOF – PSA EX 5), The Stanley Cup (PSA EX 5), Clint Benedict (HOF PSA EX 5), Reg Noble (HOF – PSA EX-MT 6 – POP 3 w/ only 3 graded higher!), Jack Adams (HOF – PSA EX-MT 6 – POP 9 w/ only 7 graded higher!), Clarence “Hap” Day (RC – HOF – PSA EX-MT 6 – POP 4 w/ only 3 graded higher!), C.A. “Babe” Dye (HOF – PSA EX-MT 6 – POP 3 w/ only 5 graded higher!), Sylvia Mantha (HOF – PSA NM 7 – POP 1 w/ only 2 graded higher!), Sprague Cleghorn (HOF – PSA NM 7 – POP 3 w/ only 3 graded higher!), Harry Broadbent (HOF – PSA NM 7 – POP 6 w/ none graded higher!) and Shorty Green (HOF – PSA NM+ 7.5 – POP 1 w/ only 2 graded higher!). For the rest of the set, remaining in raw ungraded form, cards seen in the condition range of NM include those of Ken Randall, John Ross Roach, Albert McCaffery RC, Albert Holway RC, Earl Campbell RC, Samuel Rothschild RC, Fred Lowrey RC, Odie Cleghorn, Goldie Prodgers, Louis Langlois RC, Vernon Forbes, Edmond Bouchard and Alfred Skinner’s RC while those in EX-MT range include the cards of Bert Corbeau, Lloyd Andrews RC, Fred Hitchman RC, Ganton Scott RC, Louis Berlinquette RC, Billy Boucher, Mickey Roach, Robert McKinnon RC, Redvers Green, Werner Schnarr RC, James Herberts RC and Curley Headley’s RC. For cards deemed as being in the scope of EX shape we have the examples of Chris Speyers RC, Mickey O’Leary RC, Stanton Jackson, Bob Boucher RC, Gerald Munro RC, Duncan Munro RC, Charles Dinsmore RC, George Carroll RC, Jesse Spring and George Redding’s RC while cards presenting around the vicinity of VG-EX include the likes of Herbert Mitchell RC, Dutch Cain RC, Wilfrid Coutu and Norman Fowler’s RC. Finishing out the set, Carson Cooper’s RC is seen as being in the scope of G to VG condition while an additional copy of John Ross Roach’s card is viewed in the realm of GOOD condition after inspection. Also including a card we never encountered before, a “missing players” checklist card that shows creases and pencil marks, the set is accented with an early-to-mid-1920s Champs Cigarettes pack that shows the same Stanley Cup image that appears on the card within the set offered here. Advertised as “fragrant and cool”, the pack measures nearly 2” x 3” and shows a "Series 1915" on the excise stamp. Of note, these stamps were used for several years; from 1915 to circa 1922-24 while the pack itself shows wear through stains, foxing, small areas of paper loss and scratches through the image of the Cup itself. A truly remarkable and seldomly seen assembly that is sure to become a staple in your all-important vintage collection!
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