Description:

Annie, Get Your Gun! A Target Ball owned by Annie Oakley with impeccable provenance

[ANNIE OAKLEY (1860-1926)] Cobalt blue crosshatched glass target ball with no maker’s name but possibly made in France by the Van Gutsem company. Circumference 8.5", diameter 2.7", 3" tall including nipple. With a color photocopy of the letter of authenticity, picturing five target balls, including this one, and a clay pigeon, signed and dated “Bess Moses Edwards Oct. 30, 2013," 1p, 8.5" x 11". Fine condition.

Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was born Phoebe Ann (Annie) Moses. She adopted the stage name Oakley when she and Frank Butler began performing together. The grandniece of Annie Oakley, Bess Moses Edwards, was the granddaughter of Annie’s only brother, John Moses. Born in 1922, she remembers sitting in her Grandaunt Annie’s lap as a child. She has signed a letter of authenticity certifying that the five target balls and one clay pigeon were “passed down through our family." All six targets are pictured on her letter.

from Bess Moses Edwards letter of authenticity

In part, “Beginning in the mid-1870s, more and more shooters began to use glass balls as targets rather than live birds. Buffalo Bill's Wild West used glass balls at first before switching to black balls made from a resinous compound. It seems that the shattered glass in the arena was becoming a hazard to livestock (and to people)…

“(5) Cobalt blue crosshatched ball with no maker's name but possibly made in France by the Van Gutsem company...

“I hereby certify that the item pictured and described above is authentic and was passed down through our family. Bess Moses Edwards Grandniece of Annie Oakley"

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000