Alright everyone, here is the scoop: I’ve decided to cash out. It’s time to let it all go and let someone else play curator. I’d rather not deal with auction houses and I’m sure most of you out there would rather not have to deal with buyer’s premiums. If you have the capital, this is your chance to get it before the museums or other collectors do. I’m willing to negotiate, but I’m not going to let stuff go at a loss. I’ve got too much to list here, but here are some highlights (all documented with provenance):
I’ve got a documented confederate relic pistol that was a war souvenir captured by Custer from CSA cavalry during the Civil War that came directly from the Custer family farm estate in Tontogany, OH accompanied by several books, a display case, provenance documents and pre-Colombian native artifacts from the late Col. Raymond C. Vietzen’s museum collection once housed at the former Indian Ridge Museum in Elyria, OH.
I’ve got an Indian Wars Officer’s Bison coat with Crow beadwork sleeve cuffs attributed to the General Nelson A. Miles collection that if not his personally, would have belonged to one of the men under his command, I acquired it from Alex Cranmer of IMA (you know, the guy Rick Harrison calls in on Pawn Stars to appraise guns and militaria?) heck, just google “Nelson Miles Buffalo Coat” and it will be the first result that comes up. It’s really something else!
I’ve also got a documented pioneer shotgun with presentation mounting that belonged to one of the first Flathead pioneers in 1880, Thomas McGovern Sr. (The company town of Somers was founded on McGovern’s 500 acre cattle ranch and Somer’s Bay used to be called McGovern Bay. McGovern, a placer miner turned stockman sold his land to the O’Brien Lumber Co. which built the tie pickling plant there to supply railroad ties for the westward expansion of the Great Northern Railway at the behest of railroad tycoon James J. Hill). The gun was acquired and catalogued by the late historian and businessman Samuel Enoch Johns of John’s Hardware in Kalispell (Brother-in-Law of Frank Bird Linderman who married his sister) and documented as part of his rare firearm Collection. The other Samuel E. John’s collection guns are housed at the Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena.
I have the historic family guns (a Colt Navy Richard’s Mason Conversion and an 1870s Presentation English Shotgun) of early (3rd) Livingston, MT mayor Charles Garnier Sr., who was also founder of the famous Garnier Cigar Company and led the welcoming committee that greeted President Teddy Roosevelt when he arrived in 1903 for the dedication of Yellowstone National Park. I also have Garnier’s Chief of Police and Fire (Livingston’s first police and fire chief) P.W. Nelson’s .38 S&W revolver. Nelson was Livingston’s town marshal back when Calamity Jane used to come and paint the town red. As he was the only lawman, if she got herself arrested (not unusual for Calamity) while there, Nelson would have been the one to have locked her up. I have many rare Garnier Cigar Co. items as well from the factory and Garnier estate. This collection should ideally be in the Yellowstone Gateway Museum in Livingston, or on display in City Hall.
Another major piece worth mentioning is a fragment of the WWI armistice flag, taken from the vehicle of the surrendering German delegation while they were stopped in La Capelle, France. The fragment is framed with a letter from the American 1st Lt. with the Reserve Mallet/Motor Transport Corps that took it, as well as other extremely rare Reserve Mallet documents, historical letters, books, a captured imperial marked C96 mauser w/ holster and German flag among other pieces.
These mentions are only the tip of the iceberg. There is much, much, much more. Enough to fill a museum. Local Montana history, American history, Military history, Law Enforcement history, Railroad history, pop-culture/film props, Star Trek, Star Wars etc.
If your interest is peaked, PM me and we can discuss additional items, details and numbers and I can send pictures. If I don’t get any serious responses my next step is to contact RIA and other major auction houses. I would possibly consider trades of land/real estate or precious metals.
