- Program from the Montreal’s 1889 Winter Carnival, a week-long event where Frederick Arthur Stanley, donator of hockey’s most famous trophy, witnessed his very first hockey game!
- A few months after arriving in Ottawa in June of 1888 after being appointed Governor General of Canada, the 48-year old Stanley, (who was a keen sportsman), and his entourage were invited to the seventh annual Montreal Winter Carnival. This amazing 4 page excellently preserved program was issued by Canadian Pacific Railway promoting rail access to the Carnival.
- The cover of the programme shows a vintage image of snowshoers approaching the Carnival with the text “Great Winter Carnival 1889 Compliments of Canadian Pacific Railway." The “Afternoon” schedule for the first day, Monday, February 4th details: Arrival of Their Excellencies the Governor General and The Lady Stanley of Preston and manning of the living Arch in Their Excellencies’ honor Band and 5 o’clock tea at Victoria Skating Rink (which at the time was the largest and finest rink in North America).
- It was then that evening that Lord Stanley got to see his first ice hockey game, the evening program including “Formal opening of the Ice Palace, by Their Excellencies. Electric illumination of the Ice Palace and grand pyrotechnic display”. The game pitted two of the best teams in Canada, the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (the first team awarded the Stanley Cup four years later in 1893!) and the Montreal Victorias. Already underway, the game was halted when trumpets sounded and the vice-regal party from Ottawa arrived and took special seats alongside the natural ice surface.
- The captain of the Victorias, Jack Arnton, reportedly rallied the players and led three cheers for the most distinguished of the group, Lord Stanley. An article in the following day’s “Gazette” newspaper described the Vics’ 2-1 victory over the A.A.A. as “one of the finest exhibitions of the Canadian national winter game” and reported that “Lord Stanley expressed his great delight with the game of hockey and the expertise of the players.”
- The Stanleys, including their two sons and two daughters who accompanied them to Canada in 1888, all became hockey fans and participants following their Montreal winter carnival experience. The Ottawa Rideau Hall Rebels hockey club included Arthur and Edward Stanley, with their famous dad coming up with the idea to give a cup to recognize Canada’s top hockey team. The Stanley Cup awarded now to the NHL champion is widely considered to be one of the most famous trophies in the world and this is the event that gave rise to it.
- 5 1/2” x 9 1/8”
- Excellent condition; small split at the bottom of the folding crease, very light horizontal folding crease, and some very light discolouration visible on the right edge of the inside page. Very minor handling wear otherwise and colours are still vibrant. Very well preserved for its age.
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- Please see photos, listed condition is not professionally graded
Item ID# PS
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