Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1471:
Description
This is a classic piece of American railway history—an authentic canvas money bag from the Railway Express Agency (RY. EX. AGY.). Bags like this were used to transport cash, valuable documents, and high-value shipments across the country, making them highly collectible relics of a bygone era of logistics and commerce. The heavy-duty cotton canvas construction with the drawstring closure is typical of early 20th-century bank and railway transfer bags. The stenciled marking “PROPERTY OF RY. EX. AGY.” followed by a six-digit number, “875866,” clearly identifies its origin and suggests it was part of a large inventory, likely dating from the 1920s to the 1960s, before REA’s decline. The condition is good for its age and intended use, showing significant, honest wear including soiling, minor staining, and overall discoloration consistent with decades of heavy handling in a railway environment. There are no obvious tears or holes, and the drawstring appears intact. H 22″, W 14″. From the Western display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
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