Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Winning an Allan Cup championship with the Winnipeg Hockey Club in 1913, Jack Ruttan enlisted in the Canadian Army during the First World War, later serving at his alma mater, coaching the University of Manitoba hockey team in 1923-24. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a letter handwritten and signed by the early star. At approx 7 ½” x 10 ¾” and on his personal letterhead, the single page communication is dated Jan 17, 1967, with the text referencing Hamlyn’s request for both an individual and team photo. Both the text and signature have been executed in bright blue ink, with absolutely no issues for the flawless autograph. Honoured with inclusion in the HOF in 1963, Ruttan would pass at the age of 83, early in 1973.
The letter and signature remain in impeccable condition, with the autograph as bold as the day it was penned. There is a single horizontal fold line, with a pair of binder holes over the top section, with no text affected.
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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