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. ALS signed “Love, Bob, Robert Stroud, #594,” one page, lightly-lined, 8 x 10.25, Alcatraz prison stationery to which he adds his full name and prison address at top, April 3, 1950. Stroud writes to his sister Mamie. In part: “Your letter of the 27th came a few moments ago, and it caught me right in the midst of one of those attacks. I felt pretty rotten for a while, but the [sic] fill me full of sedatives and anitspasm [sic] right away, so it did not last long…I have been working very hard for the last three weeks, and that is what set off my attacks last night and today, probably. I have been working on a motion to the circuit court of appeals, and there is quite a bit involved in it. If it works as I hope it will, you will be reading out it. Of course, I have not been able to do much on the book during that time, but I will be able to get back to it now. Everyone who has read any of the third tells me that I am doing a better job on it than on the other two. Everyone who has read this book is sure that it is one that will create a sensation when it is published and will sell well.” In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds. During his incarceration, Stoud tried multiple times—all unsuccessfully—to convince the appellate court that his prison sentence was cruel and unusual punishment. In addition to his legal maneuvers, Stoud famously wrote two books on ornithology, referenced here, and prepared a manuscript on his history of the American penal system entitled Looking Outward. That work is likely the tome mentioned to his sister. The work never saw the light of day, however, as the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons rejected his request to send the work to publishers. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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