Description:

W.F. Cody / "Buffalo Bill" Dual Signed Postcard Photo, Beckett Certified & Graded 10

A "Rapid" postcard photo depicting William F. Cody (1846-1917), signed by him as "W.F. Cody / 'Buffalo Bill'" outside the image along the bottom. The black and white photograph is printed in stone as "Col. Cody. (Buffalo Bill.)" at center, and was produced by Rapid Photo Co. in London, United Kingdom. The half-penny green Edward VII stamp verso is postmarked September 30, 1904 in Southport, United Kingdom. Encapsulated, certified, and graded 10 by Beckett Authentication Services. The postcard is addressed in another hand to a Southport resident named William Mellor who lived in Linaker Street, just blocks away from the city's Duke Street Cemetery. (Another address recipient's name was partly written underneath.) Expected wear commensurate with age including wrinkled/blunted corners, else near fine. The postcard photo measures 3.375" x 5.375" while the slab measures 4.5" x 7."

William F. Cody's real-life experiences informed his incredibly popular "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" show. Before he was an entrepreneur, promoter, and showman, Cody served as a Union soldier in the Civil War, Pony Express rider, scout, Indian fighter, and professional hunter. Cody allegedly earned his moniker "Buffalo Bill" by the ease with which he slayed thousands of the beasts of the Plains. The standard "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" traveling circus featured Cowboys, Indians, Bandits, and other motley characters. Performers like Sitting Bull and Calamity Jane reenacted famous events, staged stunts and tricks, raced on horseback, and circled their Conestoga wagons to the dazzled delight of American and European crowds.

Buffalo Bill and his entourage enjoyed considerable success overseas. He undertook eight separate European tours between 1887 and 1906, eventually traveling throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Romania, Bohemia, Poland, Ukraine, France, and Italy. Buffalo Bill and his performers left New York City for Liverpool in Spring 1904 to exclusively perform "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and Congress of Rough Riders of the World" within the UK over the next several months. They visited Southport, a seaside community in Merseyside located about 20 miles north of Liverpool, on Friday, September 30, 1904. The tour wrapped up in Hanley in Staffordshire in late October 1904 after having visited 132 towns and cities in England, Wales, and Scotland.

The show in Southport stirred up tremendous excitement, thanks to Cody's shrewd pre-show marketing promotions. The performance was thrilling in its proportions and its variety; scale because an estimated 62 train wagons, plus stage coaches, conveyed performers, horses, props, and equipment to each venue; and novelty because a host of international expert equestrians had joined the Wild West cast. These latest arrivals included gauchos from Argentina, Cossacks, and horseback riders from Mongolia, North Africa, and the Middle East.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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December 14, 2022 11:00 AM EST
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