Jean Beliveau Foundation Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/11/2008
Captivating 10-karat gold cuff links may very well be 19th century affairs and trigger the story of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association’s hockey team being the first holder of what became known as the Stanley Cup. Lord Stanley’s coveted award was originally called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup and was won by the Montreal AAA, champions of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, in 1893. The team defended its title the next year but saw the Montreal Victorias capture the Cup in 1895. These oval-shaped cuff links each include the AAA’s winged-wheel logo on one section and fancy engraved “R C” initials on the other. “10K” appears on one side of the little piece adjoining the ovals, with what appears to be “HBS” (Henry Birks) in the maker’s hallmark on the other. Henry Birks, by the way, was founded in 1879 and became Henry Birks and Sons in 1893. The story goes that these were purchased from an antique dealer who got them from a lady who claimed that they were given for having won the Stanley Cup but there is no way to confirm that, and, the R.C. initials do not match those of anyone on the Montreal AAA roster, so the whole notion could simply be lore, but a wonderful thought if indeed true. In excellent, difficult-to-expect-nicer condition, they’re marvelous pieces.
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