Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Spring 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/2/2023
The sophomore issue to Imperial Tobacco’s landmark C56 hockey card release and highlighted by the coveted rookie card of the legendary Georges Vezina that serves as one of the hobby’s most cherished cardboard treasures, this complete set of desirable 1911-12 C55 cards have all been recently graded, and are making their hobby debut to the collecting community. Arguably the most lavishly illustrated and aesthetically pleasing cigarette cards ever produced for any sport, a mere single specimen can send even the most casual of collectors into cartophilic bliss, with a complete ensemble the dream of literally any hockey card aficionado. Complete at 46 cards (including both Walter Smaill variations) and featuring 22 prestigious members of the Hall of Fame, our Vezina example is a pleasing EX 5, one of thirty (30) cards included in the set which earned EX 5 or better from the folks at PSA. For the other cards picturing notable HOFers, Ernest Russell’s card has earned a high-grade mark of NM 7 while the key rookie of Joe Hall has garnered an EX-MT 6. Joining the Vezina with an EX 5 grade is the card of Fred “Cyclone” Taylor with Newsy Lalonde following close behind with a designation of VG-EX. The card of Art Ross, #31 in the set, rounds out the group of hockey’s main forefathers, displaying a grade of GOOD 2 on its label. For the rest of the set, the rookie cards of Jack MacDonald and Bobby Rowe have earned high-grade designations of NM 7 while HOFer Ernie Johnson’s cardboard is found right on their tail with his grade of EX-MT+ 6.5. Those deemed worthy of EX-MT 6’s include 1-Moran (HOF), 3-Holden, 10-Kerr (RC), 11-Walsh (HOF), 12-Shore (RC), 14-Ridpath, 21-Lindsay (RC), 25-O. Cleghorn (RC), 27-Smaill (RC – Right Hand on Stick), 29-Marshall (HOF), 32-Hern (HOF), 36-Gardiner (RC - HOF) and 40-Power (RC) while card #26 of Skein Ronan (RC) is found as the lone EX+ 5.5. The remaining group of cards that sport marks of EX 5 are nine (9) specimens including the likes of 6-Dunderdale (HOF), 15-Staurt (HOF), 18-Vair (RC), 30-Hyland (HOF), 33-Roberts (HOF), 34-Glass, 37-Bernier, 43-Payan (RC) and 44-Poulin (RC). Card #7 of Ken Mallen serves as his official rookie card and has been deemed worthy of a VG-EX+ 4.5 while the group of close proximity VG-EX 4’s include examples of #’s 16-Lesueur (HOF), 4-Malone (RC – HOF), 17-Darragh (RC – HOF), 19-Smith (RC), 22-Gilmour (RC), 24-S. Cleghorn (RC – HOF) and 41-Pitre (HOF). For the last six (6) cards, those of #3 Fred Lake, #13 Alex Currie (RC), #27 Walter Smaill (RC -Right Hand on Hip), #39 Henri Dallaire (RC) and #45 Jack Laviolette (HOF) have all earned VG 3’s while the last card of #5 Ed Oatman (RC) has been deemed worthy of a GOOD 2. Featuring beautiful and thought provoking renditions of some of hockey’s most important names, good luck with these beautiful pre-war relics!
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