Imprisoned for murder at the age of 18, Robert Stroud (1890–1963) spent more than 54 years in jail (47 in isolation), where he became a self-educated authority on birds and bird diseases and author of an important reference, Stroud’s Digest of the Diseases of Birds, published in 1942. A self-taught legal scholar as well, Stroud wrote an exhaustive history of the federal legal system. TLS signed in pencil, two pages, 8.5 x 11, August 6, 1935. Stroud writes from prison to Fred E. Daw in Chicago. In part: “I … am glad that the birds got there o.k. and very glad that you are so well pleased with the hen. She has good feathers I know. Most of my buffs have good feathers. The yellows cannot compare with them. Now about the birds for sale. I am not angery [sic] or offended about what you say and I know that you are telling me the truth. But the birds mentioned are exceptional birds and I could not attempt to meet the prices you mention. And as you say this is the bad season for selling birds anyway…. I do not know many friends who would go to the trouble to copy that article for me. Thank you. I have the book however. It is put out by the Miami Valley Aviaries…. You asked if I had ever had any Borders. I took some hens once on a trade but never raised any. One of them was the best feathered bird that I had ever seen…. I am going to have to make this short. I hope that it finds everything going well with you and your birds….” Intersecting folds and light soiling and handling wear (a few creases and pinholes), otherwise fine condition. RRAuction COA.
