They put it in print… Jesse James’ belongings auctioned at “high” prices…
December 14, 2015 by TimHughes
Email This Post
| Print This Post
Collector interest in the personal effects of the famous and infamous is certainly strong, with news noting auctions of noted personalities reporting surprising high bids.
This is not a recent phenomena. The “St. Louis Globe-Democrat” of April 11, 1882, contains a front page report headed: “Jesse James Relics” which reports on an auction of household goods at the home of the infamous bandit who was killed just 8 days prior. Interest in his personal effects was high, with the report noting in part: “…The crowd began assembling at noon…several thousand people had gathered about the house. The goods sold were of little or not value, yet a large sum of money was realized. Six plain cane-bottom chairs sold for $2 each, and the one on which the outlaw was standing when he received the fatal bullet sold for $5…an old revolver, $17; washstand, $11…The entire lot would not, only for the name, be worth $10, but nearly $200 was realized…”.
Can you image what these Jesse James belongings would sell for today? A revolver (the one noted above?) owned by Jesse James was in a Heritage auction in 2013 & was expected to bring $1.6 million. It did not sell.
If you liked this post, you may also enjoy...
- Interesting comments on Jesse James…
- Second time killed was the charm…
- Interesting article is critical of those who take issue with the killing of Jesse James…
- “Collecting Newspapers – The Basics” (Part IV) – Setting Values…
- How to be a cowboy: The protocol in 1882…
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!