Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
The principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs for over 30 years and the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens, Conn Smythe first won the OHA championship with the University of Toronto in 1915 before serving with the Canadian Armed Forces during The Great War, and later serving again, during World War II. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a photo signed by the iconic builder. At 6 ¼” x 8 ¼”, the glossy image picture’s Smythe in his military uniform, with the captain and later acting major signing over the bottom section in bold black ink, with the deep signature flawless. Elected to the HOF as a builder, Smythe would pass away in 1980, at the age of 85. THIS IS THE FIRST INDIVIDUALLY-SIGNED CONN SMYTHE PHOTO WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
As mentioned, the signature is impossible to improve upon, with just light corner and edge wear to the photo. There is also a stamp over the reverse from noted lensman Turofsky, along with a stamp from Hamlyn.
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.
Numerous early Hall of Fame legends make up the one-of-a-kind gathering including signed photos from Sylvio Mantha, George Hainsworth, King Clancy, Cecil "Babe" Dye, George "Buck" Boucher, Jack Ruttan, Barney Stanley, "Bullet" Joe Simpson and others, along with signed letters from Ernie "Moose" Johnson, Ernie Russell, George McNamara, Jack Marshall, Dickie Boon and others. 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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