Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Decorated while serving during the First World War, John Reed Kilpatrick participated in both football and track while at Yale, with The Big Apple native later overseeing the daily operations of the New York Rangers, from 1934 to 1960. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a vintage photo signed by the noteworthy Builder. At approx 8” x 10”, the thick-stock matte-finish print depicts Kilpatrick in full military garb, with his signature placed over the bottom right, along with a personalization that states “To E. Robert Hamlyn, a loyal Rangers rooter”. Elected to the HOF posthumously in 1960, Kilpatrick died shortly before, at the age of 70. THIS IS THE FIRST JOHN REED KILPATRICK SIGNED PHOTO WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
The signature and inscription display nicely, with just light surface wear and toning to the photo itself. There is also handwritten text over the reverse, including a notation that states this photo was received by Hamlyn autographed, on Jan 23, 1946.
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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