Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Making an appearance at the 1923 Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Eskimos, Gordon “Duke” Keats saw NHL action with Boston, Detroit and Chicago, with additional seasons spent in the AHA with Tulsa. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a vintage photo signed by the Montreal native. At 8” x 10”, Keats is pictured in a formal studio setting, looking dapper in his Chicago Black Hawks uniform (1927-29). The early star has signed over the bottom left, adding “Sincerest Regards”, with the black ink signature displaying well. Receiving HOF enshrinement in 1958, Keats would pass away in 1972, at the age of 76. We should also note that THIS IS THE FIRST DUKE KEATS SIGNED PHOTO WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
Typed biographical text appears on the reverse along with a stamp from Turofsky, with it noted that Hamlyn received this photo signed, on Oct 26, 1959. The signature and inscription remain bold, with just a few light areas due to a weak pen. The photo itself displaying well, with some minor corner creases along with a bit of toning.
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 Dick Irvin, Steamer Maxwell, Frank Patrick, Clint Benedict, Alec Connell, Duke Keats, Frank Foyston, Moose Goheen and others, along with signed letters from Dickie Boon, Harry Hyland, Jack Marshall, Jack Ruttan, Joe Malone, George Hainsworth, Aurele Joliat, Cy Denneny 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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