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Lot #1003
Blanche Barrow Group of (3) Original Photographs with Marie Barrow Autograph Letter Signed

"Doesn't look like a prison does it"—three snapshots of Blanche from Marie Barrow's personal collection

Estimate: $2500+
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Description

"Doesn't look like a prison does it"—three snapshots of Blanche from Marie Barrow's personal collection

Three original vintage glossy snapshot photographs of Blanche Barrow (the wife of Clyde Barrow's brother Buck), from the collection of their sister Marie: a 4.75 x 6.75 photo of her sternly posing at the bottom of some wooden steps during her incarceration, with a lengthy handwritten and signed message by her on the reverse: "Sis: This is the only one I have. It was a full enlargement and they cut my feet off. Will have some more of those enlarged after Xmas, don't have the money now, so if you rather have a small one will send you one in a couple of months. I have Buck's pictures painted, look so sweet. From, your loving and lonely sis in law, Blanche, the window is in the dining room where I work, doesn't look like a prison does it"; a 2.5 x 3.5 candid of Blanche lounging on the grass in a swimsuit with her eyes closed, with a handwritten message from her on the reverse: "These are not so good but you can tell I am well and getting along fine, except for my eye. Lots of love, B.B."; and a 2.5 x 3.5 photo of Blanche posing on the hood of a Chevrolet, with a "Jim Thompson Co. / Knoxville, Tennessee" stamp on the reverse, as well as a more modern ink identification notation. Also includes an ALS by Marie Barrow, signed "Marie Barrow Scoma," one page both sides, October 30, 1995, to noted collector David Gainsborough Roberts, in part: "Am sending pictures of Blanche. Hope picture of her in bathing suit is the one you wanted…Mr. Roberts you said Blanche had four children I don't know who told you that. Blanche don't have no children. Her dad was a preacher, she was a good girl never did anything wrong. She was a girl who was at the wrong place, at the wrong time her mistake was going with Buck to see Clyde they didn't know they were going to get in trouble." In very good to fine condition, with creasing and significant edge loss to the larger photo. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope from Marie Barrow to David Gainsborough Roberts, as well as a notarized affidavit signed by Marie Barrow ("Lillian Marie Barrow Scoma") attesting to her status as the youngest child of Henry and Cumie Barrow, and sister of Clyde Barrow. From the collection of David Gainsborough-Roberts.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Remarkable Rarities
  • Dates: #566 - Ended September 20, 2019