Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2019
The smallest locale to ever be crowned Stanley Cup champions, the Kenora Thistles began play in 1894 while still known as Rat Portage, competing in Manitoba-based leagues throughout their existence including the Manitoba Hockey Association in 1902, where they would win three league championships in six years. We have a trio of antique postcards featuring the historic club. The first is colourized and shows a familiar image taken in 1907 as Stanley Cup champions, with the full team posed in a studio setting including HOFers Hall, Phillips, Hooper, Griffis and McGimsie, with all players listed. The second postcard is a rarer example featuring the 1905-06 club with the same HOFers minus Hall, posed in a studio setting, this time dapperly attired in pinstriped suits. The final postcard shows what is likely a “seconds” Thistles team or some other incarnation, with the club posed in a home setting, identified as the Kenora Thistles over the reverse.
The 1907 Stanley Cup champions postcard exhibits toning and corner wear, with a large horizontal crease across the center. The reverse has been filled out and sent, with the stamp intact. The 1905-06 postcard is in low grade and extremely fragile, with areas of the surface brittle and chipping off. There is also heavy staining with paper loss to the reverse. The final postcard picture’s the “Thistles” in a home setting, with handwritten text over the reverse stating “Dearest Bertha, This is our Kenora Thistles in our house on St Patrick’s Day. It was very exciting. Father’s store is a sponsor. Love Emma - 20 March 1907”. The postcard has a dark image, with corner wear and a few creases, along with toning over the reverse.
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