[WILD WEST SHOWS]. CODY, William F. ("Buffalo Bill") (1846-1917). Autograph letter signed ("W.F. Cody"), to George Bleistein. Boston, 20 May [1910].

1 page, 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 in., "Buffalo Bill's Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill's Great Far East" letterhead, old folds, small chip to right edge, otherwise very good.

In 1895-1896, William F. Cody, Nate Salsbury, George Beck, and several other large investors launched the Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company to bring irrigated farming to the Big Horn Country.

The recipient of this letter, George Bleistein, General Manager and Owner of the Courier Company in Buffalo, NY, was a substantial investor in the irrigation company. Later, he would be an initial investor in founding the town of Cody, Wyoming.

Cody writes to Bleistein while the Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill Wild West was playing in Boston. It seems Bleistein had earlier written Cody asking if he could make a visit to Buffalo. Cody responds in the letter, saying that he could not get away from the show due to the illness of Pawnee Bill's wife. It is more likely that Cody wanted to avoid a conversation with Bleistein regarding outstanding debts.

For many years, the Courier Company printed posters and show programs for Cody. The usual means of settlement was for the Wild West to send four or five payments during the course of the season.

Reference: BONNER, Robert. William F. Cody's Wyoming Empire: The Buffalo Bill Nobody Knows. Oklahoma Press, 2007.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.