Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
Serving with the Canadian Forces during The Great War as a member of the 228th Battalion, George McNamara had previously won a Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1914. Renowned for his physical play and open-ice bodychecks, McNamara would lead the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to the Allan Cup championship as coach, in 1924. Originating from the incomparable autograph collection of E. Robert Hamlyn, we have an extremely rare typed letter signed by the Ontario native. At approx 7” x 10 ½” and on his personal letterhead, the Dec 16, 1944 communication references Hamlyn’s collection of signed photos, with McNamara apologizing for not being able to locate a hockey photo for Hamlyn. Signed over the lower right in thin black ink, the signature displays wonderfully. Enshrined in 1958, McNamara passed in 1952 at the age of 65. THIS IS THE FIRST GEORGE MCNAMARA SIGNATURE WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
The letter remains in beautiful high grade with no issues, with just a pair of punched holes over the top section for binder insertion. There is also a notation over the reverse stating that Hamlyn received this letter on Dec 28, 1944.
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 Sylvio Mantha, George Hainsworth, King Clancy, Cecil "Babe" Dye, George "Buck" Boucher, Jack Ruttan, Barney Stanley, "Bullet" Joe Simpson and others, along with signed letters from Ernie "Moose" Johnson, Ernie Russell, George McNamara, Jack Marshall, Dickie Boon 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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