Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
The founder and original owner of the Boston Celtics, Walter A. Brown was instrumental in the development of American hockey when he led the US to its first gold medal at the World Championships in 1933. The 1962 HOF Builder also served as the President of the Boston Bruins, from 1951 to 1964. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a typed letter signed by the innovator. At 8 ½” x 11” and on Boston Garden letterhead, the Dec 30, 1946 communication relays the upcoming sending of a Bruins program to Hamlyn, with Brown signing in blue ink, with just some minor bleeding into the paper. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962, Brown would pass at the age of 59, in 1964.
With just very light handling wear to the letter itself including a pair of fold lines, there is a bit of edge toning over the reverse, with a handwritten notation stating that Hamlyn received this letter, on Jan 4, 1947.
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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