Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
lot of 18 items, most from the last year of their lives. Includes typed poetical story by Frank Butler, 3 pages 8.5" square plus additional 1" slip. A Hunter's Dream of Long Ago relates the wanderings of a hunter and his dogs after heeding "the call of Morpheus." In his dream he hunts partridge, quail, woodcock, snipe, and ducks as in days of old. Then this hunter old shakes the grip of Morpheus off, awakes and sighs because these days have passed. It was but a dream of a hunting day long ago. Also included is a 1p, 5.5 x 9", hastily jotted note by Annie to her sister, only noted "Sunday," no date or place. Hand is shaky and hard to read. Also a page on similar paper with "3" at top, but rest not present. ALS 7 x 9.75", noted at top Coppy [sic], 29 Sept. (19)26, Greenville, OH. To J.P. Dannefeker (?) asking if they will sell a Parker gun that she has shipped to them. She states that she would like to realize $100 from it, but needs to know quickly. I have been very ill, unable to sit up even in bed. Mr. Butler is in some better condition but very weak. There are two typed copies of letters from representatives of the Edw. K. Tryon Company in Philadelphia, dated 16 Sept. 1926. Both have the same wording, stating that they do not think they can realize $100 for the Parker, since the price with their commission would be $125 and they don't think they can find a buyer at that price, but will try if she wants them to. One of the copies is signed J. Frank Pratt, the other is not signed. Apparently she did not want them to keep the gun, and sent it on to Dannefeker. There is a letter from J. Frank Pratt at Tryon dated 21 Sept. letting her know that the other letter was sent to a different address. One typed letter to Annie from Lou Smith at the Ithaca Gun Company, Ithaca, NY is dated 23 Aug. 1926. He seems to be assuring Annie that he is not expecting payment for the Ithaca gun that Frank picked up. He also mentions an article Will Rogers wrote about her (possibly in the Saturday Evening Post) and is returning the copy she sent him in case she needed it. The lot also includes three letters to Annie: from John Turner, Real Estate Investor in Lubbock, TX, postmarked 29 May 1926; a letter from Will Butler at "Friends of Our Native Landscape" in Chicago, 20 Oct. 1926, personal content; and a letter from a niece, Cheley Moses, in Kansas City, MO, 18 Oct. 1926, personal content.
One TLS by Pete Carney of the Remington Arms Company is dated 6 Nov. 1926. It is addressed to Frank expressing condolences on the death of Annie. Mr. Carney also inquires whether the manuscript Annie was working on the year before is available and notes that he might be able to do something with it. It is not clear what became of that, since Frank Butler quit eating after his wife's death and died himself 18 days later. An equally sad booklet is included, The Life of Dave, As Told by Himself. 9pp, 12mo, illustrated with black-and-white photos on the covers. Dave was the Butlers' favorite dog, nearly a substitute child, who was killed by an automobile on 25 Feb. 1923. Lot also contains unsigned carbon copies of both Frank and Annie's wills, from October 1925. Annie's is 5 legal-size "onion-skin" pages, Frank's only two.
The lot is rounded out by a 16-page booklet, Powders I Have Used, DuPont advertising, with 8 images of Annie and her shooting story. There is also a 4pp cardstock brief biography by Peter Carney, "Greatest of Modern Dianas," apparently written before her death. Both of these pieces have Annie's margin notes in them (sections crossed out, or notes to move a sentence to another place). The last item is Frank Butler's pocket notebook. the first entry is 16 Aug. 1925. Most entries are financial, deposits or withdrawals, from late in the year through early 1926, many are from Allis Chalmers. But the second page, written sideways, The Day We Wont Forget, Feb 25th 1923, Dave Was Killed by Automobile. He even transferred the info from year to year. Only 7 pages with notes on them.
From the first time she beat him in a shooting match Frank Butler was entranced with the young Phoebe Ann "Annie" Moses. Annie learned to shoot by providing game for her family and the local grocery in Greenville, Ohio. The grocer then resold it to restaurants in Cincinnati, and it would be one of those hotel owners who would invite Annie to participate in the shooting contest against the already-famous marksman, Butler. The couple married in 1876, but did not appear together until 1882. They began traveling to shooting exhibitions, joining the Sells Brothers' Circus in 1884 for a season, then Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show the following year. In 1889, Oakley became the star, and Butler seemed to be happy to give her the limelight, having been the central part of the act for a couple decades.
They would remain with Cody for 16 years, retiring from the show in 1901, tired of travel and having suffered a serious train accident with the show. Oakley eventually joined another show, and Butler became a representative for the Union Metallic Cartridge Company. Annie also made endorsements, some of them included in this lot. The couple settled in Cambridge, MA in 1913, and it was here that they acquired their dog Dave. He was to be an important member of the family, and later of their act when they returned to performing - which they always did. Oakley was planning for a comeback and possibly a motion picture in 1922 when she and Butler were seriously injured in an automobile accident. Recovery this time took more than a year. She did perform again in 1924, but retired just a year later, certainly weakened by the accident and the stress of performing and travel. She died in 1926, frail and in ill health. Devastated by the loss of his love of 50 years, Butler reportedly stopped eating and followed her to the grave barely 3 weeks later.
Condition: Most as expected, folds and minor toning. Slightly musty. The "Powders" booklet separated, with several areas of foxing.
Auction Location:
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Ohio |
5.5% |
Ohio State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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