Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
One of the first goaltenders to record a 30–win season, Alex Connell spent the majority of his career with Ottawa, spending his final two seasons with the Montreal Maroons which included winning a Stanley Cup championship in 1935. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a vintage photo signed by the early netminder. At 7 ½” x 10”, Connell is depicted in a studio portrait, fully outfitted in his Maroons uniform. Signing over the upper right in blue ink, the Ottawa native added a personalization to Hamlyn, along with “Montreal Maroons”. Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, Connell died before his formal induction, on May 10th of that year, in his 58th year. We should also note that THIS IS THE FIRST ALEX CONNELL SIGNED PHOTO WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
The signature displays nicely, with a few surface wrinkles and creases to the photo. Typed biographical text appears over the reverse, along with a stamp from photographer Rice. There is also a handwritten notation that states that this photo was received by Hamlyn on Nov 23, 1953.
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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