Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Pioneering the now universal practice of using set lines during his coaching days, Odie Cleghorn first starred for his hometown Montreal Wanderers after a single season with Cyclone Taylor and the Renfrew Creamery Kings in 1910-11. Additional seasons would be spent with the Canadiens and Pittsburgh, with a Stanley Cup championship won with the former, in 1924. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a framed vintage photo signed by the early star. At 7” x 9” and affixed to an approx 9” x 13” beige mount, Cleghorn is pictured in a suit and tie with stylish fedora, with his large and attractive black fountain pen signature placed beneath, along with a personalization to Hamlyn. Cleghorn would pass at 64, just hours before the funeral of his HOF brother Sprague in 1956.
The signature displays beautifully, with a few large creases present over both the photo and mount, with the piece framed to full dimensions of approx 10” x 14”. A copy of the original letter that accompanied the photo sent to Hamlyn from Cleghorn is included.
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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