(LOT 315)
c.1940's Gordie Howe Autographed PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Photo – Measures Approx. 8" x 10" – Signed "Gordie Howe – Mr. Hockey – 9" (PSA/DNA Authentication)
Presented here is one of the most amazing Gordie Howe collectibles extant, an ultra-rare c.1940's PSA Type 1 photo that is actually signed by the unparalleled hockey icon. Indeed, taken in the late 1940's (Howe started his NHL career in 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings), it portrays a classic full uniform pose of Howe donning his Red Wings uniform while posing for the camera on the ice with his hallowed hockey stick. Even more impressive is that Howe has signed this original photo in the lower right quadrant as follows: "Gordie Howe – Mr. Hockey – 9", with the black fountain pen script depicting conservative "8" strength! It is a daunting task alone to try and locate a large 8" x 10" format Type 1 photo of Howe from the 1940's, let alone finding one that has been autographed by "Mr. Hockey", himself. We cannot begin to overemphasize the significance of this world class collectible that reveals a somewhat sepia toned surface and absolutely spectacular contrast and crystal-clear clarity. A few stray wrinkles barely visible to the naked eye and some paper rippling along the upper border are modest flaws that do not impede the critical central image.

Of course, its esteemed stature stems from the fact it represents one of hockey's immortal all-time players. Typically, the question of who is the greatest hockey player ever typically comes down to three choices: Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky or the seemingly ageless Gordie Howe. True, Gretzky eventually broke all of Howe's scoring records and Orr revolutionized the defenseman position via his electrifying style of play, but Gordie Howe truly established the hallowed scoring benchmark for all to follow. Howe's prestige and accomplishments are synonymous with the iconic Babe Ruth, including a myriad of nicknames including: "Power", "Mr. Everything", "All-Star", "The Most", "King of Hockey", "The Legend", "The Man" and "Mr. Elbows". Most famous of course is his renowned nickname "Mr. Hockey" and why not? Gordie Howe's unfathomable NHL/WHA career spanned a miraculous 5 decades, tallying 1,071 goals and 1,518 assists for a staggering 2,589 total points! Only Wayne Gretzky has surpassed those marks but not even Gretzky or any hockey player for that matter played in an amazing 1,769 games which still stands as the all-time mark. Along Howe's glorious path of success, he accumulated 4 Stanley Cup Championships with the Detroit Red Wings, claimed 6 MVP Hart Trophies and secured 6 Art Ross Trophies as the league's leading scorer. While his seemingly infinite list of accolades reads "on and on", it is clearly obvious that Howe's unquestionable standing as one of the game's greatest players ever will outlast eternity, truly justifying why this extraordinary c.1940's scripted offering merits a final resting place in one of the finest hockey collections on the planet!

MIN BID $500
_