Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Despite retiring early at just over 30 years of age, Charlie Conacher carved out an exceptional career, twice leading the NHL in scoring, with selection to either the First or Second All-Star Teams every season from 1931-32 to 1935-36. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a typed letter signed by The Big Bomber. At approx 7” x 10 ½” and on his personal letterhead, the July 28, 1954 communication has Conacher mentioning other players from his era, answering Hamlyn’s request for information. The signature has been scripted in blue ink and remains in gorgeous condition, with absolutely no fading taking place. Elected to the HOF in 1961, Conacher would pass from throat cancer in 1967, just ten days after his 58th birthday.
With no issues for the signature, the letter remains in wonderful condition, with just some light toning along with a couple very minor corner bends. There is also 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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