Sell or Auction Your Ben Thompson Autograph for up to Over $5,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions

FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Ben Thompson autograph that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).

Sell Your Ben Thompson Autograph

Ben Thompson (November 2, 1843 – March 11, 1884) was a gunman, gambler, and sometimes lawman of the Old West. He was a contemporary of “Buffalo” Bill Cody, Bat Masterson, John Wesley Hardin, and “Wild Bill” Hickock, some of whom considered him a friend, others an enemy. Thompson fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and later for Emperor Maximilian in Mexico. When hired in 1881 as marshal in Austin, Texas, the crime rate reportedly dropped sharply. Thompson was murdered at the age of 40 in San Antonio, Texas, in the “Vaudeville Theater Ambush.”

Below is a recent realized price for a Ben Thompson autograph. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:

Ben Thompson Autograph. Sold for over $5,000.

Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:

Scarce Treasure From the Wild West Days — Bat Masterson Autograph Letter Signed — “…My father was born in this state eighty years ago and moved to Illinois where I was born fifty one years ago…”

Very rare Bat Masterson autograph letter signed “W.B. Masterson”, dated 31 December 1905 from New York City, where the fabled figure of the Wild West era was, in his continually-evolving career as gambler, lawman and saloon keeper, then a newspaperman for the New York Morning Telegraph. Letter is addressed to a “Mr. Watson F. Masterson” of Ramsey, West Virginia and reads in full: “Dear Sir. Without going into details can assure you that we are not related; even remotely. My father was born in this state eighty years ago and moved to Illinois where I was born fifty one years ago. There are a great many families of Mastersons in Missouri and Iowa none of whom are related to mine. My father had but one brother and he was several years the eldest and has been dead about forty years and died without issue. Very respectfully. W.B. Masterson”. Includes original postmarked envelope. Originally acquired from a Charleston, West Virginia man whose father personally received the letter from Masterson. Comes with a photocopy of a newspaper article discussing this provenance. Letter measures 7.75″ x 10.25″ on two pages with a few words underlined in pencil and two extremely small holes, one on each page. Near fine condition. Sold for $16,000.

Exceptionally Rare Sitting Bull Autograph

Very rare autograph of Sitting Bull, the Native American holy man, Sioux chief and U.S government defier. Signature was originally part of an autograph album of late 19th and early 20th century notables, likely obtained during the brief period of four months that Sitting Bull performed in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, where he earned approximately $50 per week and reportedly cursed attendees in his native tongue. Ultimately, though, Sitting Bull would be shot by Indian Agency Police upon the reservation, ostensibly when he resisted arrest. Autograph page is signed boldly and clearly in black ink: “Sitting Bull” with distinctive dotting of “i’s”. Minor soiling and toning, else near fine condition. Dark Sitting Bull autograph.  Sold for $7,866.

Annie Oakley Autograph on Her Cabinet Card from 1880

Annie Oakley autograph on her cabinet card, circa 1880s. A young Ms. Oakley poses holding a double-barrel shotgun with her gloved right hand. Boldly signed in ink, “Annie Oakley.” Annie Oakley became famous when her future husband Frank Butler bet $100 that he could beat anyone in a shooting contest. He lost the bet to Annie, but won her heart. They set out performing their own act which included Annie shooting ashes off Frank’s cigarette. They later joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show in 1885. Ironically, her greatest source of wealth came in later years when William Randolph Hearst’s newspaper created a false story that she was using cocaine. She sued Hearst and won, netting her a sum that allowed her to become a philanthropist. Image measures 4.25″ x 6.5″. Baker’s Art Gallery, Columbus, Ohio backmark. Small thumbtack holes to each corner and mounting remnants to verso. Overall, near fine condition. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.  Sold for $7,000.

Rare Prohibition Law Enforcement Badge

Impressive badge worn by a federal agent to enforce Prohibition during the 1920s. Copper badge was issued by the U.S. Treasury’s IRS Bureau of Prohibition, with its shield at center, and reading in full, “BUREAU OF PROHIBITION / AGENT / US TREASURY DEPARTMENT”. With serial number 2390 engraved on reverse. Shield badge measures 1.75″ x 2.25″. Pin on verso is missing and hole at top, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $4,600.

Two Original Sioux Photographs From 1891 — One Photograph Shows “Bureal of the Dead at the BattleField of Wounded Knee” — Other Photo Shows Lakota Sioux With Buffalo Bill Cody

Albumen photograph of the mass grave from Wounded Knee, taken 1 January 1891, three days after the massacre on 29 December 1890. Photograph is captioned in the negative, “Bureal of the Dead at the BattleField of Wounded Knee S.D.” and published in “Eyewitness at Wounded Knee” where it stated that this mass grave “on the small hill where the Hotchkiss guns had been positioned” would ultimately contain 146 bodies. This photograph and another albumen were both taken by Northwestern Photo Co. of Chadron, Nebraska, whose company is well known for documenting the Wounded Knee massacre and its aftermath. Photograph measures 7″ x 4.25″, affixed to mat where the other 7″ x 4.25″ photograph on verso, possibly unpublished, shows Buffalo Bill Cody standing alongside Lakota Sioux (possibly with Big Road at center) and U.S. officers. Mat measures 10″ x 7″. Some buckling, foxing and staining to mat. Small abrasion to bottom left of Buffalo Bill photo, overall very good condition. Sold for $2,500.

James Dolan Document Signed — Other Billy the Kid

Fantastic and rare legal document signed by dozens of key officials in Lincoln County, New Mexico, home of the 1878 Lincoln County War shootouts that catapulted Billy the Kid to fame. During the five short months of February-July 1878, the Lincoln County War would pit two factions of outlaws against each other for control of economic power in Lincoln County, and not end until federal forces intervened at the Battle of Lincoln. This 1887 document is signed by 24 Lincoln County notables who are petitioning the Board of County Commissioners to limit the width of a major road leading to the Court House. Document dated 15 July 1887 is signed by: James Dolan (leader of the Murphy/Dolan faction), Justice of the Peace John Wilson (who deputized the outlaw Regulators gang), George Peppin (the corrupt Sheriff who helped Murphy/Dolan’s thugs) and Yginio Salazar (one of Billy the Kid’s Regulators). Document is also signed by Sheriff Jason Brent, New Mexican Governor George Curry, Octaviano Salas (a Coroner’s Juror for Alex McSween’s murder), John Wheeler (who rode with Billy the Kid), cattleman George Barber, William Rosenthal (who sued John Chisum), George Sena (Pat Garrett’s Deputy Sheriff), Sheriff Saturnino Baca, Antonio Salazar (the local tax collector) and John Thornton (whose family defended Dolan and Chisum). Document runs two pages (front and verso) with all signatures appearing on the second page, and includes an integral leaf with docketing approving the petition. Measures 7.75″ x 9.75″. A spectacular document displaying the signatures of men who sought to break the untamed West. Sold for $2,237.

John Selman Murder of John Wesley Hardin Document 1895

John Henry Selman (November 16, 1839 – April 6, 1896) was sometimes identified as an outlaw and sometimes a working lawman of the Old West. He is best known as the man who shot John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon in El Paso, Texas, on August 19, 1895.

John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age. He killed his first man at the age of 15, claiming he did so in self-defense.

El Paso, Texas legal document from the case of Texas vs. John Selman, the man who killed notorious Texas outlaw John Wesley Hardin. Dated 25 November 1895, document concerns the testimony of J.E. Turner, likely one of the witnesses at the Acme Saloon the night of the famous shooting. 8″ x 7″ document and 4.5″ x 6.75″ photo framed together for an overall size of 17.5″ x 12″. Minor chips to top, trimmed at bottom margin and separation to middle fold. Very good condition. Sold for $1,460.

Exceptionally Rare Carte de Visite of the Jesse James and Younger Gang, Circa 1876 — Depicting 6 Outlaws Involved in the Famed Northfield, Minnesota Botched Bank Raid

Very scarce 1876 CDV of 6 members of Jesse James’ infamous James and Younger Gang, as well as a bank teller victim, after their failed attempt to rob the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. CDV contains images of James-Younger gang members: Bob Younger, Jim Younger and Cole Younger, as well as Charlie Pitts, Bill Chadwell, Clell Millet and murdered bank teller Joseph Haywood. The day of the failed robbery, 7 September 1876, marked the beginning of the end for the infamous James-Younger gang as its members were captured or killed, save for the James’ brothers, who just barely escaped. In addition to Miller and Stiles dead, every gang member was wounded, including Cole who was shot in his left hip, Frank James in his right leg and Jesse James, the last to be shot, getting a bullet in the thigh as the gang escaped. The Youngers surrendered, and pleaded guilty to murder in order to avoid execution. CDV photographer’s backmark reads: “Den Chamberlain Mitchell’s Block, NO.13, 2ND ST., Winona, – Minn.” CDV measures 2.5″ x 4″. Some fading, else near fine. Sold for $1,954.

Buffalo Bill Photo Signed The Year Before His Death

Buffalo Bill signs a photo of himself donning Western regalia during the last year of his life. He inscribes: ”W. F. Cody / ‘Buffalo Bill’ / 1916” in heavy black ink to the lowermost section. Buffalo Bill’s wild west reenactment shows were a fixture of early 20th century culture. Measures 4” x 5”. Toning, light soiling and mounted to paper. Very good condition. Sold for $1,220.

Consign your Ben Thompson autograph at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your Ben Thompson cabinet photo to us at [email protected].

FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Ben Thompson autograph that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).