Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2018
Extensive “puck” collection here spans four decades and will pique the interest of many, with numerous enthusiastic entrepreneurial hobbyists surely stepping up to the plate, or should we say, getting ready for the face-off! Two popular issues, still designated as “Topps” lead chronologically, with puck images cleverly incorporated into the 1965-66 card design, the lineup highlighted by the rookie cards of Esposito, Cheevers, Giacomin, Counoyer and Henderson. Phil’s fellow future superstar teammate, Bobby Orr, makes three appearances in a '67-68 set following his eye-opening rookie season. An almost complete run of O-Pee-Chee sets and near sets then ensues, commencing with a '68-69 assembly, the only gap produced by the absence of '76-77 and '77-78 issues. As for condition, we’ll get into the important details on our website, but can tell you here that there’s very little from the '60s and first half of the '70s that those keen on high grade examples will be keen on, or will rush to submit to the pro graders. However, the rookie and early cards of dozens of Hall of Fame legends, in any condition, still carry value and appeal; shop owners and vendors at card shows know that all conditions sell. Please see our website to hear about the likes of Howe, Hull, Orr, Espo, Tony “O”, Clarke, Perreault, Dryden, Lafleur, Dionne, Bossy, Gretzky, Lemieux, Roy, Yzerman and others, while recalling their on-ice wizardry. Good luck with this decades-in-the-making bonanza.
WEB: Okay, let’s get to it. The ’65-66 Topps (128-card) set is dominated by decent VG, VG+ and VG-EX cards, with the latter two grades combining to outnumber the former. The Espo RC doesn’t make it to VG, with 108-Howe similar (G to G+), but Gordie’s 600 Goals! SP card is crease-free and VG-EX, as are 59-Hull, 21-Giacomin RC and 51-Henderson RC, with Cheevers and Cournoyer RCs at VG. Checklists are marked (#66) and partially marked (#121), while team cards at the end are also low grade and include the Red Wings at VG, the Bruins at P and the others in the F to G range.
The ’67-68 set is a 132-card entry, with the second-year Orr card (#92) no better than G, due to a few small light creases, an often-seen vertical printing wrinkle/”line” (a one-inch affair in this case, rising up to attain Bobby’s ear) and moisture staining in the upper left corner. Bobby’s 118-Calder Trophy tribute is P with paper loss front and back, while his 128-All Star card is G. The remainder, we would say, average G+, with corner/edge/surface wear the grade-lowering flaws. A comparatively nice crease-free Derek Sanderson RC stands out at VG-EX+, with other notables being 3-Lemaire RC (VG), 75-Vachon RC (G), 32-Esposito (F), 43-Howe (F) and 113-Hull (G). An unmarked #66 checklist is G+, while checklist #120 has marks and is otherwise VG.
”Official” O-Pee-Chee representatives commence with a ’68-69 set, with the total rising to 216 cards but the condition not really elevating. We spot some moisture damage and a diamond cut on the #2-Orr card (otherwise VG), while Bobby’s “specials” (200-All Star, 214-Norris) are F-G. The key Bernie Parent rookie is similar, with that of 64-Redmond creased-up and miscut. Checklists are marked/creased and although we observe some intermittent cards in the VG neighborhood while perusing the ’68-69 binder, not enough to escape a low grade (F-P-G) assessment.
Condition improves with the ’69-70 binder; crease-free VG-EX and EX cards are among those pulled, with some of the keys notable exceptions. The Tony Esposito rookie has some staining/toning in the left and right borders and is otherwise VG+ with a tiny crease, while the Serge Savard RC is off-centered but o/w VG-EX. Light creases affect 24-Orr (G+) and Bobby’s 212-All Star card is poorly cut, creased and low grade. The 209-Norris Trophy example is VG-EX+, with Gordie Howe’s Mr. Hockey (no number) at VG+. The numbered version, the 214-Esposito Ross/Hart variation (with numbers front and back) and the #31 checklist are the only three cards not accounted for, with checklist #132 marked/creased. A VG average, or very close to it, appears accurate.
The ’70-71 set of 264 has some yet-to-be-seen issues, (as far as this collection goes), with however the regular Orr card (#3) and three of four of Bobby’s trophy-winning cards crease-free. A diamond cut is to mention with his regular example (o/w EX), with 249-Art Ross EX+ and the two others (246, 248) VG-EX. The Bobby Clarke rookie card is a nicely-centered VG-EX example, but the Perreault and Sittler RCs are among two dozen brought way down by two staple holes, many of them stars, with most noteworthy being 15-Hull and All-Star cards of Orr and Howe. We also spot some back damage, namely on some trophy cards and 231-Sawchuk Memorial. All types of condition, (29-Howe is P), render an average grade difficult to assign.
The ’71-72 ensemble is a common (#51-Bordeleau) shy of completion and shows moderate to heavy handling and wear. Key rookie cards are 45-Ken Dryden (F), 148-Lafleur (miscut and o/w G) and 133-Dionne (VG), with all other key/star cards creased and with surface wear = P-F-G, while the checklists are heavily marked.
Much more respectable and attractive is the group of ’72-73s, lacking only a #19 checklist and a WHA card (297-Sheehan) to be complete. An average in the EX neighborhood, three unmarked checklists and the WHA representatives at the end contribute to the appeal, with however 129-Orr creased and VG.
The condition sensitive ’73-74 set of 264 exhibits light to moderate corner wear, with VG-EX to EX cards looking to dominate and two of the three checklists unmarked (#116 is VG, 129 is EX (OC)). Larry Robinson and Billy Smith rookies each feature a yellow printing dot and are otherwise VG+ and EX respectively.
Laced with interesting rookie cards is OPC’s ’74-75 issue, with Scotty Bowman and Don Cherry rookies EX-MT, Salming and McDonald RCs EX, Gainey at VG and Potvin multi-scratched and G. Mostly VG to EX+ for the rest, with a mix of marked (2/3) and unmarked checklists and team checklists.
Most of the ’75-76 set appears in the EX, EX-MT and NM realm, with however with intermittent examples exhibiting moisture damage – you heard it here first.
As mentioned earlier, there are no ’76-77 or ’77-78 reps, while a complete ’78-79 set features a majority of EX+ and better cards, highlighted by Mike Bossy’s rookie card which however comes in at EX. Checklists and team checklists are unmarked, with again, some stained cards observed.
Ah yes, and now to the blue-bordered babies, led by the all-time greatest whiz kid, Wayne Gretzky. A lower grade Gretz rookie is to report, with the off-centered example featuring multiple creases but no holes, rips or writing; “Fair” is a fair assessment in our eyes. Nothing that strikes us as being even close to high grade accompanies Wayne, with checklists and some team checklists marked and Bobby hampered by scotch tape(!).
As for the 1980s, there are no scorching sets to boast about and the pulled important rookie cards do not include any MINT shockers, with the hoard’s value mostly tied up in the ‘60s and ‘70s entries. We’ll detail the nicest quality and more important RCs here, and let the winning bidder discover the not-mentioned stars and rookies. The best of the biggies are ’80-81 Mark Messier RC (EX), ’84-85 Steve Yzerman RC (EX-MT), ’85-85 Mario Lemieux RC (EX-MT) and ’86-87 Patrick Roy RC (EX+). We’d relate that overall condition improves with time and notably after the ’81-82 set, with a couple of checklists missing from 86-87. At the conclusion of the ‘80s, there are a few appearances from the 1990s, again O-Pee-Chee productions, with ’90-91 OPC Premier the most notable, with ’90-91 to ’92-93 OPC and Premier sets finishing things off. Good luck with the project that this intriguing humongous stash offers.
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