Quebec auction house sells century-old hockey postcard set for record price

The postcard set, which features several Hockey Hall of Famers, including Georges Vézina and Art Ross, is one of only a handful known to exist worldwide.

An auction house in Delson, Que., has made sports memorabilia history with what is believed to be the most expensive hockey postcard set ever sold.

Classic Auctions Inc. fetched US$357,594 (C$487,686) for what it says is an “exceptionally rare” set of early hockey postcards dating to the 1910–11 season, the company announced Thursday.

The set, which features several Hockey Hall of Famers, including Georges Vézina and Art Ross, is one of only a handful known to exist worldwide.

“This set was originally produced in extremely limited quantities and is extraordinarily rare,” said Marc Juteau, founder and president of Classic Auctions Inc., adding that it “remains in very good condition for its age.

”It has been professionally graded and authenticated," said Juteau.

The landmark sale was the highlight of a major auction event featuring more than 1,000 lots of significant sports memorabilia, generating more than $2 million in sales.

Another notable item was a team-signed, game-used basketball from Game 7 of the 1998 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers.

The ball, used during Chicago’s 88–83 victory, was later gifted by Michael Jordan to longtime Bulls security guard Gus Lett, a moment documented in the Netflix series The Last Dance.

It sold for US$180,972, or C$247,243.