WILLIAM F. "BUFFALO BILL" CODY - ANNOTATED ALBUM LEAF SIGNED 04/20/1899 CO-SIGNED BY: FERDINAND PECK, JOHN M. "ARIZONA JOHN" BURKE, ALLISON NAILOR JR., NATE SALSBURY, LT. GENERAL JAMES "LEE'S WAR HORSE" LONGSTREET - HFSID 350584
Sale Price $2,299.00
Reg. $2,750.00
WILLIAM F. CODY, JAMES LONGSTREET and others
Signatures of Cody, Longstreet and other prominent Chicagoans of the era, collected
on both sides of a 6x4 sheet in 1899.
Signatures on both sides of a 6x4 sheet: "W.F. Cody / 'Buffalo Bill'", "Nate Salsbury",
"John M. Burke /'Arizona John'", and "Allison Nailor, Jr.". Dated in unknown hand at left:
"April 20, 1899." On verso: "Yours Truly/James Longstreet/July 15 '99" and "Ferdinand
W. Peck". Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 40x20.
William Frederick Cody earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of
buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. Cody had begun his wild west career herding
cattle at age nine. Five years later, he became the Pony Express' youngest rider. Throughout the
Civil War, Cody worked as a government scout, extracting from life and the West all it had to
offer. His western notoriety grew with his adventures, including those during the Sioux War, in
which he purportedly fought a duel with Chief Yellow Hand. Cody's theatrical career was
launched that same year with his re-enactments of such Indian battles. By 1883, he formed his
first Wild West spectacle, becoming a master showman who toured internationally until
1903. In 1893, six years before this card was dated, his Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress
of Rough Riders of the World show hit its high point during the Columbian Exposition and
World's Fair in Chicago. With insufficient space on the fairgrounds to house Cody's spectacular
show, his manager Nate Salsbury wisely leased land opposite the Columbian Exposition. The
Wild West, which featured thrilling "battles" between cowboys and Indians and amazing
shooting demonstrations by Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, was well publicized by press agent
John M. "Arizona John" Burke. The show drew six million paid customers during its
five-month run and exceeded $1,000,000 in profits, but money was not Cody's only concern.
After World's Fair officials turned down a request by Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison to admit
poor children at no charge on a special day, Buffalo Bill announced he would let them see the
Wild West show for free - and he also provided complimentary transportation, candy and ice
cream. Some 15,000 youngsters enjoyed one of the most exciting afternoons of their lives.
Cody's act of charity was likely noticed with interest by Ferdinand W. Peck, the famous
Chicago philanthropist who served as Vice President of the Columbian Exposition.
Peck, a wealthy businessman, also organized the Chicago Auditorium Association to help build
a cultural and civic center. Today, the Auditorium is part of Roosevelt University. West Point
graduate James Longstreet rose to Lieutenant General in the Confederate Army. He
came to be known as "Lee's Old War Horse" for his faithful service to General Robert E. Lee
during the Civil War and accompanied Lee to the Confederate Army's surrender at
Appomattox.At the battle of Fredericksburg, Longstreet had directed the South to a humiliating
rout with the North. The tenacious fighter, called "Old Pete" by his troops, also discovered a
gap in enemy lines during the Battle of Chickamauga and forced a Union retreat. Longstreet
suffered a serious wound in the Battle of the Wilderness but was back in command six months
later.
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