Vol. 3, No. 1 – September 2004

(.pdf version available here)

Previews of Gilchriese, Vandenberg, Gussman and a general update

The 2004-2005 auction season promises a lively time in the rooms. JWG currently has four sales offering three major collections on the calendar and two additional sales in process. In addition to the scheduled auctions we will be issuing the first of two fixed price catalogues of books, ephemera and archives from the John D. Gilchriese collections in early October.

Issued simultaneously will be the catalogue for Auction 11, A Western Tour, October. 29th. Among auction high spots is O. J. Hollister’s History of the First Regiment of Colorado Volunteers, Denver, 1863, one of the first books printed in Colorado Terr. and a definitive account of one of the least known but most important factors in the Union victory in the War between the States. A section of cattle books includes a real rarity, Mrs. Augustus Wilson’s Memorial Sketch of the First National Convention of Cattlemen, 1885, along with other fine cattle titles.

A section of western bibliography offers Ramon Adams’ The Rampaging Herd, warmly inscribed by Ramon Adams to John D. Gilchriese; Cowan’s A Bibliography of the History of California and the Pacific West 1510-1906, 1914, with the morocco bookplate of Estelle Doheny and the original Dawson’s Book Shop explanatory letter of May 13, 1931, that accompanied this copy laid in; another copy inscribed by Cowan, “To the gentle artist in the humane profession of inspired and compulsory bookselling, John Howell, from Robert Ernest Cowan, Feb 18/20.”

Western surveys include a complete set of the Pacific Railroad Surveys, 12 vols. in 13; Wheeler’s U.S. Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Merdian, 7 vols. and others. A selection of California county histories includes Santa Barbara (1927), two editions of Solano (1879 & 1912), Mendocino (1880), two editions of Sonoma (1880 & 1889), two editions of Sacramento (1880 & 1923), Kern (1914), Humboldt (1915), two editions of Orange (1911 & 1921), Napa & Lake (1881), San Joaquin (1905) and Ingersoll’s San Bernardino (1904). Archives relating to Los Angeles’ Gaylord Wilshire and another to the Golden Gate Bridge are also up for bid.

Gilchriese Auction II

Wyatt Earp & Tombstone pass over the auction block on February 18, 2005, as the second auction of unique Earpiana from the John D. Gilchriese Collections is conducted. Top lot in the Gilchriese sale is a pencil diagram drawn by Wyatt Earp in 1924, estimate 50000/80000, indicating the positions of Wyatt, his brothers Morgan and Virgil along with Doc Holliday when they arrived at the vacant lot just off Tombstone’s Fremont Street at the outset of the gunfight with the Clantons and McLaurys—see below.

Photographs offered include a C.S. Fly portrait of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp, paramour of Johnny Behan before becoming Wyatt’s consort estimated at 8000/12000 and a group image of the Volunteer Fire Department in Tombstone clad in firefighting gear with Virgil Earp prominent estimated at 15000/25000.

Earp memorabilia includes Wyatt’s pocket knife, tin whiskey cup and other personal items given to John Flood by Wyatt and Josephine Earp. Also offered is John H. Flood, Jr.’s correspondence for and with the Earps including a copy of the type-script of Flood’s Earp biography.

An afternoon session the same date offers a Merwin & Hulbert 44-40 cal. revolver accompanied by documents of provenance including a 1923 letter describing the revolver’s earlier ownership by Wyatt Earp. The pistol has remained in the same family since the 1923 acquisition by Albert Sames. An ivory roulette chip from Wyatt Earp’s Dexter Saloon in Nome, Alaska is offered along with Tombstone Epitaphs, Daily Nuggets, etc.

Vandenberg Military Collection

Scheduled for May 6, 2005, the collections of Generals Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Sr. & Jr. reveal struggles of an American century from a military perspective. The younger Vandenberg focused on the U.S. Army Cavalry troops in the West & Southwest while items from Vandenberg, Sr. reflect his World War II service and that of General Leon Johnson, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action in the historic U.S. air raid on the Ploesti oilfields.

High spots include a letter from SHAEF Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, written on the final day of the supreme command, and addressed “Dear Van” and a Churchill typed note signed to Gen. Leon Johnson, many signed photographs and more.

Enormous symbolism attaches to a German flag that flew over the German command post in Bastogne under the German occupation during the Battle of the Bulge. Gen. Vandenberg was touring Bastogne with Gen. Patton who, on seeing the Nazi banner, ordered it torn down and returned to him. Patton then presented the Nazi flag to Gen. Vandenberg in thanks for 9th Air Force air support.

Kenneth Gussman Library & Collection

Kenny Gussman spent his career dealing with the underside of life, as he rose to Chief of Detectives of the New York Police Department, but occasional respites and retirement were devoted to the American West in art and collectibles. Gussman built a collection of 2500 western art reference and collectible volumes, many limited with original works of art.

Perhaps Gussman’s early encounters with noted western artist Olaf Wieghorst, who served with Gussman in the NYPD, contributed to his passion but rarely do we encounter a collection combining the quantity and quality of Kenny Gussman’s. All readers interested in western art and collectibles should take note.

The March 28, 2005 offering of Part I of the Kenneth Gussman Library & Memorabilia includes a high spot checklist of western art books. Many of Gussman’s collectibles including bronzes, pictures, gold scales, opium scales, Indian artifacts, etc. will be offered at fixed price by Square Butte Gallery, JWG’s sister gallery. Additional details and high spot lists will be included in the next issue of the Western Dispatch.

Original Earp gunfight diagrams fetch $287,500

Gilchriese Auction I on June 25, 2004, developed strong prices on a number of desirable lots. Top prices were on the four diagrams executed by Wyatt Earp and John H. Flood, Jr. depicting four of Earp’s gunfights. Top price of $115,000 was drawn by the “street fight” commonly called the gunfight at the O.K. Corral; diagrams of the killings of Curly Bill Brocious, Frank Stilwell and John Ringo were knocked down at $57,500 each for the above cited aggregate price. All were acquired by the same buyer, thus keeping them together.

Don Perceval’s large oil painting of the “street fight”, 4’x6’6” in size and commissioned by Gilchriese for his Tombstone Wyatt Earp Museum in the mid-1960’s was knocked down at $40,250 while a lot including a C.S. Fly photograph of the Earps’ friend, Dr. Goodfellow, was gaveled at $6,900. Other Tombstone personalities drawing intense bidding were Charles Shebl, sometime Sheriff of Pima County (Tucson), Robert Paul who was elected Pima County Sheriff but was hired out as a Wells Fargo stage messenger during 1881, and John Clum, publisher of the Tombstone Epitaph.

In summary, unique items fetched unique prices. The February Gilchriese sale will again present much that is unique.



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