William "Buffalo Bill" Frederick Cody

Cody, William "Buffalo Bill" Frederick

American soldier, bison hunter, and showman (1846-1917). Typescript letter with autograph insertion signed. No place. 29.04.1909. 4to. ½ page.
$ 8,112 / 7.500 € (82574/BN53747)

To a former employee whom he provides with a ticket to an arena box at his show: "My dear Lou: Will be awfully glad to see you. I enclose you a requisition that will admit you and party to an Arena box but [autograph insertion: 'fill in date'] you can fill it in. When you be sure and ask for me and any of my men will bring you to me after the performance. Your old boss [...]". - "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" was one of the most successful American variety shows of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 1909 Cody merged with a former rival, Gordon William Lillie ("Pawnee Bill", 1860-1942), to create "Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East". The combined production, sometimes called the "Two Bills Show", featured traditional frontier acts with more exotic attractions like elephants, camels, and belly dancers. Mounting debt and a series of poor investments eventually forced Buffalo Bill to declare bankruptcy and shut down the show in 1915. - On colour-illustrated headed stationery of "Buffalo Bill's Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill's Great Far East", including Cody's and Lillie's portraits in profile. Folded..

立即购买