American Historical Ephemera & Photography

RIVINGTON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Tom Rivington"), to Mr J. C. Harvey of Boston, MA. Gering, NE, n.d. 2pp., 7 7/8 x 9 3/4 in. (creasing, chipping to edges, few rips with adhesive repair, and rust staining from paper clips). Rivington writes in response to Mr. Harvey's request for a history of a rifle and revolver owned by Mr. Rivington, one being a percussion cap revolver that Jesse James gave him in 1878 when they were both at his house in St. Joe, Missouri after buying and selling horses together in Dodge City, Kansas and Illinois. He writes: "...he was buying horses at dodge city Kansas at the time I went haves (sic) with him on 8 car lode (sic) we took them to illinois and made good money when we cam back we stopt (sic) at his home in st. Joe misouri (sic) that is when he gave me the old gun..." He explains how the pair went on to work together buying horses, cattle, and mules, and offers his thoughts on James: "I will say this for Jess James whatever he was in the past his word in a busness (sic) deal was as good as gold..." Rivington also tells of how he learned James's identity later on: "...all of us horse buyers knew him as tom hawerd (sic) but after he was kild (sic) a lot of us went to st. Joe misouri (sic) to see the corpse and it was then the first we new (sic) he was Jess James." 
-- RIVINGTON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Tom Rivington") to an unknown recipient, possibly J.C. Harvey. N.p., n.d. 6pp., 7 7/8 x 9 3/4 in. (creasing, chiping to edges, rust staining and denting from paper clips). Thomas writes about how "Wild Bill" Hickok gave him a revolver and rifle. He writes that a party of government officials came to Fort Hayes, Kansas to go buffalo hunting and brought Hickok two revolvers and a Winchester rifle. At that time, Hickok gave Rivington his old revolver and rifle. Rivington writes of the historic events Hickok took part in with the firearms, and details some of his own adventures with the guns. He mentions that he is ready to sell the revolver for one hundred dollars. 
-- BLAKE, Herbert Cody. Autograph letter signed ("Herbert Cody Blake"), to William Harvey. "Brooklyn," ca 1931. 7 3/4 x 12 1/4 in. (bottom portions of each page fully separated, chipping to edges). Blake writes about his correspondence with Thomas Rivington, who he refers to as "a genuine old timer," letting Mr. Harvey know that Rivington is likely willing to sell the pistol given to him by Bill Hickok. Blake continues his letter by speaking to the authenticity of the "old timer's" stories about time spent with "Buffalo Bill," Billy the Kid, and "all the old bunch." 
-- BLAKE, Herbert Cody. Autograph letter signed ("Herbert Cody Blake"), to William Harvey. "Brooklyn," 17 October 1931. 7 7/8 x 12 in. (lower portion fully separated, chipping to edges). Blake informs Mr. Harvey as to the price of the Hickok pistol, and tells him that he does not think it is worth that price. He goes on to discuss other firearms. -- Together, 4 manuscript letters discussing firearms owned by "Wild Bill" Hickok, Jesse James, and experiences with other western figures.