Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2219:
Description
A captivating collection of late-19th-century Wild West show ephemera centering on “Lone Star Harry” (b. ca. 1855), an American cowboy, U.S. Army scout under General George Crook, and premier trick-pistol shot traveling with the Wonderland Shows. The archive includes an exceptionally rare 1894 pink promotional pamphlet published by Dick’s Publishing House in New York—noted for its biographical sketches of his 1882 Nebraska cattle drive and a unique gunfighting strategy advising readers to “stand sideways” so the left arm protects the heart—along side two hand-written personal letters addressed to Harry from “Anna R. M.” sent from Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, dated August 1894, with their corresponding envelopes. Also included is a matted tintype portrait of a scout and a loose tintype featuring a trio of performers titled “3 Kidds”. This glimpse into traveling show history exhibits heavy age-related wear, including staining, tearing, and fraying to the envelopes and paper, with the August 9 letter possibly missing a page while the August 15 letter remains complete; tintypes show typical surface oxidation and scratching. H 3.75″, W 4.75″, D 0.25″. Please see photos for condition.
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