The Jean Beliveau Auction- February 2005
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/22/2005
The one that all serious Hockey Hall of Fame autograph collectors one day dream of owning, this formidable Lord Stanley signature is one of the finest ever offered to the hobby, and appears at the bottom of a fascinating 115-year document. The Canadian passport begins "By His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir FREDERICK ARTHUR STANLEY, Baron Stanley, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor General of Canada". It then goes on to certify that "The Honourable Levi Ruggles Church, Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench, residing in the City of Montreal.........is a British Subject; and that these presents are granted to enable him to travel in foreign lands". The passport was made out on November 22, 1890, with a thought-provoking, spine-tingling "Stanley of Preston" signed in fountain pen at the bottom. The reverse of the tri-fold document reads "PASSPORT In Favour Of" with "The Honourable Levi Ruggles Church" added in fountain pen and "Issued by the Governement of the Dominion of Canada" printed below. Featuring an embossed seal in the upper left corner, the ancient document is approximately 11" x 11" and has been preserved in outstanding condition with no edge tears. A minor spot of vertical moisture damage is visible to the left of Stanley's signature. We feel that Lord Stanley's legacy is not one that needs to be recounted here; all hockey historians realize the significance of this piece. We are extremely proud to be able to offer this coveted treasure for public auction.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).