Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
Montreal’s iconic cathedral and home to the best moments ever witnessed within the sport, the Montreal Forum was the heart of the city’s beloved Canadiens, with the iconic venue on par with the most important arenas and stadiums throughout North America. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a collection of 10 Montreal Forum letters on both Canadian Arena Company and Club de Hockey Canadien letterhead, with signatures present from Frank J Selke, Kenny Reardon and others. With the majority 8 ½” x 11” and ranging from 1942 to 1966, each document features either Canadian Arena Company or Club de Hockey Canadien branding, with each addressed to Hamlyn. Content within most deals with requests for photos, programs and past Habs player information, with one letter signed by Reardon (1955), one by executive Selke, with the remaining eight having varied signatures from Canadiens executives.
The Reardon and Selke signatures display nicely, with the majority of the letters in good condition with fold lines, toning and light to moderate handling wear present. There is also a pair of binder holes over the top section of each page.
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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