Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Finishing in first place at the conclusion of the 1950-51 NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings were led by superstar Gordie Howe and rookie netminding sensation and Calder Trophy-winner Terry Sawchuk, with six players named to either the First or Second All-Star Team. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a team-signed photo of the 1950-51 NHL champion Detroit Red Wings. At approx 8 ½” x 10 ½”, the full team is pictured in a black and white image, with the player’s listed beneath. Each player has signed in matching blue ink near his image, including deceased HOF members Howe, Sawchuk, Kelly, Abel, Adams and Tommy Ivan. The signatures display beautifully, with a handwritten notation over the reverse stating that the photo was received from Tommy Ivan on March 28, 1951.
The additional signers include Peters, Prystai, Gee, McFadden, Stewart, Pavelich, Goldham, Reise, Couture, Stasiuk, Martin, Raglan, Gravelle and a few others. The photo itself exhibits some corner wear, with a few minor surface bends.
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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