Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2021
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2021
Much rarer than a cut signature or an autographed letter, this official Military Commission has been witnessed in vintage ink by the namesake of our most treasured trophy. Although he never took in a championship game, Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor General to Canada and the Earl of Derby, purchased for the price of ten guineas a trophy bearing his name for presentation to the amateur hockey champions of Canada. The Stanley Cup has since become the symbol of professional hockey supremacy. As Lord Stanley died in 1908 his autograph is usually absent from even the most complete of Hall of Fame collections. This wonderful and scarce find is an antique 12" x 16” official government document on thick linen parchment and has been elegantly signed at the bottom as “Fred Stanley” and dated Jan 12, 1878. The document promotes William Henry McCausland Esquire to the position of Captain. The future Lord Stanley has co-signed - as Secretary of War, an office he held from 1878 to 1880 - along with Officer Commanding in Chief, George B. Young, AKA Prince George Duke of Cambridge (1819-1904).
The important document displays beautifully with surface wear and heavy fold lines the main areas of concern. There is also considerable toning along said fold lines, most notably over the reverse, with a small area of paper loss along the top section of the upper right fold. Despite these issues, the document would look elegant framed.
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