Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction November 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/28/2023
After six seasons with the Detroit Red Wings where the Winnipegger was considered the best netminder in the game, Terry Sawchuk was traded by the Red Wings to Boston in 1955 as the club was banking on minor league goaltender Glenn Hall. Two seasons would be spent in Beantown before his triumphant return to Motor City. Offered here, we present this photo that has been signed by the deceased legend as well as by his Bruins teammate, Leo Labine. A press photo from the archives of the St. John's Evening Telegram and stamped as such on the back, the notation above on the reverse reads "Mayor Harry Mews of St. John's, Nfld., shaking hands with Boston Bruins stars - Terry Sawchuk and Leo Labine" with the date of "April 1956" found underneath as well as an additional stamp of who to return the image to and their address. With bits of black paper from the album that the image was affixed into and tape stuck to the reverse the 6 1/2" x 5 1/2" black and white image remains in good condition with light edge wear as well as a couple of foxing spots seen over the front while the glossy surface shows scratches throughout. Having been signed by both Sawchuk and Labine in blue ballpoint pen, the signatures of both appear light because of the medium that they are signed on, but still remain fully legible. A JSA Auction LOA will accompany the piece.
The E. Robert Hamlyn Hockey HOFers Signed Photo and Letter Collection
Beginning life as the passion of one youth growing up in Newfounland during the late-1930s, E. R. Hamlyn was bitten by the collecting bug as a teenager, and began to seek out the signatures of both contemporary and past hockey stars, with his efforts culminating in the world class collection of signed photos and letters that encompass his incomparable autograph collection, with many unique items and extremely rare signatures making up the vast collection.
Through effective letter writing, first to teams, and then when information was received, directly to the players themselves, Hamlyn would request the addressed parties sign a photo he himself would provide, with the overwhelming majority honouring the enthusiastic collector’s wishes. And enamored with the uniforms of both the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans – despite never seeing these teams play in person, Hamlyn had the foresight to seek out the signatures of past retired stars from long forgotten and defunct franchises. The insightful collector also recorded information now invaluable to his collection, with most of the signed letters and photos having dates listed when they were received back signed.
Impossible to duplicate, this is unequivocally the greatest autograph collection that we have handled in our 25 years of service to the collecting community.
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