May 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, May 21st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2013
Lot of items related to Wild West gunfighter Frank James. After twenty years of crime sprees with his brother Jesse James as part of the infamous James-Younger Gang, Frank James made a deal with Missouri lawmen, turned himself in and was tried and acquitted. He then went to work in regular jobs, though these often capitalized on his fame as an outlaw. One such engagement employed James as a ticket-taker in the Buckingham Theater in Louisville, Kentucky. Lot includes a letter sent to James by the manager of the this Theater on 12 March 1900. On Buckingham Theater stationery, letter reads in full, ''Mr. Frank James / 4279 Laclede Ave., / St. Louis, Mo. / Dear Sir: Find enclosed my check for $2.00 and balance (three) of tickets sent me. Wishing you success, I am, Yours very truly, J H Whallen''. Single-page letter measures 8.5'' x 6.75''. Toning, a touch of buckling to upper right corner and a tiny smudge near top edge, else near fine. Lot also includes photo of James on horseback measuring 4.5'' x 3.75'' and mounted to an oyster color paper mat to an overall size of 6.5'' x 5.5''. Mat is chipped to lower left and bears a label to verso typed, ''Frank James / Kearney, Missouri''. Photo is very good save for toning, fading and slightly irregular edges. A scarce pair of items from the wild west legend.
Notorious Wild West Outlaw, Frank James Lot -- Letter Sent to Him by the Theater Manager Where He Worked After His Acquittal of Armed Robbery Charges -- With Photo of James on Horseback
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