Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2019
The epicenter of the Toronto Maple Leafs world, Maple Leaf Gardens was a venerable institution to both Canada and the sport of hockey, with the famous and iconic venue once arguably one of the nation’s most important buildings. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have a collection of 10 letters on Maple Leaf Gardens’ letterhead, with signatures present from Hap Day, past Leafs president George Cottrelle and others. At approx 8 ¼” x 11” and ranging from 1942 to 1957, each document feature’s MLG branding, with each addressed to Hamlyn. Content within most deals with requests for photos, programs and past Leafs player information, with one letter signed by Day (1946), one by Leafs executive and president Cotrelle (1942), with the remaining eight having secretarial signatures.
The Day and Cotrelle signatures display nicely, with the majority of the letters in beautiful condition with just fold lines, toning and light handling wear present. There is also a pair of binder holes over the top section of each page, 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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