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Sale 92
Manuscript, Sports, Collectibles, Space and Philatelic Auction
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Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 165 |
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James, Jessie Woodson (1847-1882). Bank robber, train robber, murderer, outlaw, gang leader, and the most notorious member of the James-Younger gang. Originally Jessie and his brother Frank were Confederate guerrillas accused of atrocities against Union Soldiers during the Civil War. Their life of crime, robbing trains and stagecoaches, came soon after. Jesse James' death at the hand of one his own gang members, Robert Ford, fueled a mythology first evidenced in the form of dime novels and plays. Despite his portrayal as a populist Robin Hood, there is no evidence that he ever shared his loot with anyone but the members of his gang. His appeal continued with the advent of movies and television, but far from being the romanticized "outlaw hero", James was depicted as a vigilante and terrorist. Nevertheless, his impact during the post Civil War years is undeniable, when he achieved legendary status.
Cut signature of Jessie W. James from a storied collection and expert. The original letter was a nearly destroyed from water damage and disasterous storage. The signature evidently was the only element salvageable. Written in brown ink on cream/toned paper, the signature is light but clearly legible, "Yours Truly Jessie W. James". In the sentence above, the words "my" and "never" are discernable. Actual cut measures 3¾ x 1" and while in only good condition, it remains a very rare and desirable signature. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000
From The John Herbert Collection.
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$2,000 |
Lot 166 |
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Russell, William H. (Pony Express) (1812-1872). Russell was a well respected businessman and co-founding partner, along with Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell, in the freighting firm Russell, Majors, and Waddell, the stagecoach company the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company which was the parent company of the Pony Express.
Rare Autograph document signed twice ("Russell"), on blue lined paper, 5¼ x 7¾", Washington City, August 20, 1860. To Hon. J. B. Floyd, Secretary of War. Being a request for future payment of $10,000 per a contract with the War Department: "…Five months after date pay to our own order at the Bank of Republic New York. Ten thousand dollars for value received and charge to account of our transportation contract of the 12th day of April 1860." The approval for the request has been written vertically and overlaps the face of the document: "No 64 / accepted / Secretary of War / War Department / August 22nd 1860 / Copy". Russell has also written the company name "Russell Majors & Waddell" on the back of the document. Small embossed congressional seal upper left corner. Two vertical folds. Very fine.
In attempting to secure funding to continue running the Pony Express, Russell became mixed up in a scandal involving Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd and Godard Bailey, a clerk for the Department of Interior. In 1857, Secretary Floyd had personally guaranteed payment for a government contract that Congress had not paid. Russell, Majors, and Waddell used this guarantee to secure a line of credit, but the failure of the Pony Express now threatened to bankrupt the firm. Bailey, perhaps fearing that Floyd, as a guarantor of some of Russell, Majors, and Waddell's debt, would be forced to resign if the firm went bankrupt, agreed to help Russell raise money. Through a series of illegal transactions, money was obtained from the Indian Trust Fund. However, on December 1, 1860, Bailey confessed to Floyd and was arrested and brought to trial along with Russell. The outbreak of the American Civil War saved the men from prosecution and they were freed on a technicality. But the bond scandal had ruined the reputation of Russell, Majors, and Waddell and their freighting firm soon collapsed into bankruptcy. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500
View details and enlarged photo
| Realized
$1,440 |
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