ALS signed “W. F. Cody,” two pages, lightly-lined, 6.25 x 11, ornate pictorial Buffalo Bill Irma Hotel letterhead, November 23, 1915. Letter to his attorney, Henry J. Hersey. In full (with grammar and spelling retained): “Yours last 17th received. And re read. And it looks or reads allright to me, and I’ll bring it with me, and you can explain it. 1st Please let me know when you will need me in Denver. 2nd. Would it be wise for you to see [Harry H.] Tammen in regard to my release from the Sells Floto Show Co.? Allso in regard to my settling after $3100 daily. Instead of $3000 daily. That amounts to about $7200 in my favor. Allso my paying the $1000 twice and my expense account of $1002 which he never paid. If Tammen will release me. And he not to use the name of ‘Buffalo Bill’ in any way. I’ll compromise by he paying me $4000. 3rd. As I have said before I must know very soon if I am at liberty to go ahead and organize my own show for 1916. 4th. What about attaching the $132000 in the bonding companies hands? And Lillie and I bringing suit for damages?” In very good condition, with staining to lower portion of second page, including over signature, but not affecting legibility or clarity at all, milder staining to first page, office stamp to first page, and a punch hole to top left of both pages.
After a series of poor mining investments and declining profits in his touring show, ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody took out a loan from businessman and co-owner of the Denver Post, Harry Tammen. This carefully engineered $20,000 loan enabled the unscrupulous Tammen to claim a controlling share in the Two Bills show and exclusive rights to Cody’s name for his own use. When Cody fell behind in his payments, Tammen auctioned off the Two Bills show in September of 1913, forcing the showman to join his Sells Floto Circus. After two years under Tammen’s control, during which time he largely served as the announcer for various acts, he finally acquired the rights to his name and was released; unfortunately, his declining health prevented him from re-building his legendary Wild West Show as he had hoped. A fascinating letter to his lawyer attempting to reclaim the name he had worked so hard to create and navigate his way out of his captive life inside the Sells Floto Circus. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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