Imprisoned for murder at the age of 18, Robert Stroud (1890–1963) spent more than fifty-four years in jail (forty-seven 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. ALS signed “Bob, Robert Stroud, #594,” one page, lightly-lined, 8 x 10.25, June 18, 1955. Stroud writes to his sister Mamie. In part: “I do not have anything to write about particularly, and I am not feeling much like writing. All I do is read and study and those things can’t be of much interest to you and I don’t think they will ever be much good to me. So I will make this short.” Stroud’s full signature appears again in the return address area of the letter. Accompanied by an unsigned copy of Stroud’s Digest on the Diseases of Birds. In fine condition. R&R COA.
