William F. ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody’s walking cane that he presented to his cousin George R. Guss in 1873. The wooden cane, 36.5″ in length, features an elaborately filigreed gold-finish handle, which bears an engraved calligraphic inscription to the top and side: “Will Cody to” and “Geo. R. Guss.” Included is a handwritten presentation note from Cody, who writes: “To My Little friend, from, W. F. Cody, Buffalo Bill, June 25th /73.” The note, penned on an off-white 4.5 x 3.25 sheet, is displayed within a period gilt frame to a slightly larger size. In fine condition, with blotting to a few words of the inscribed slip, and light scattered wear to the cane.
George R. Guss was the son of Brevet Brigadier General Henry Guss, whose stepmother was also a stepmother to Mary Laycock Cody, the mother of Buffalo Bill; Henry Guss’ marriage to Mary's half-sister, Eliza, made George Guss the cousin of William F. Cody, who first met the Guss family during his visit to the east in 1872 at the invitation of General Sheridan. With the guidance of renowned journalist Ned Buntline, Cody made his way from New York City to Westchester, Pennsylvania, and the Guss home. In his autobiography, Cody said of George's sister, ‘Lizzie Guss, my cousin, I thought was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.’ In 1873, Cody's first as an actor, he visited Westchester and the Guss family once more, staying with the Gusses for most of the summer until moving on to Rochester, New York. According to leading Cody scholar Paul Fees, it was most likely then that he gave his Medal of Honor to either Gen. Guss, or to Lizzie, and this offered cane to George. An exceptional piece of Old West history that represents one of the earliest Cody artifacts that we have ever encountered.
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