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"...Let come what will I'll l ay it on my condition can't be worse
and if there's money in that box
tis money in my purse" -written by stage coach robber Black Bart, the P o 8, l ater captured by James Hume
He admitted to 29 robberies and being Black Bart once in prison at San Quentin. He had been wounded twice but had never fired a shot himself. He said he had never even loaded his shotgun because he didn’t want to hurt anyone. He was released on January 21, 1888, and shortly thereafter, “Black Bart disappeared, but he remained a legend”; a Robin Hood of the West. Included in this lot are; A) Letter from Wells Fargo Bank’s Historical Services Vice President. B) Letter written by George Rieber. C) A circular from Wells Fargo, given personally to local and county officers and reliable citizens, offering an $800 reward for the arrest of stage coach robber Black Bart, complete with a copy of original poem written by him. D) Original Wells Fargo Archives 8x10” photograph of the rifle’s inscription. E) Letter dated 1950 from Sybil Jones. F) A transcript of the historical marker “In Memory of the Bravery of our Pioneer Officer’s.” G) An article about the capture of Black Bart, a reproduced 8x10” photo of Black Bart aka Charles Boles, and
a reproduced 8x10” image of James Hume with others. H) An original Confidential Wells, Fargo & Co’s Express Special Instructions In Regard to Stage Robberies, dated September 5th, 1883 from San Francisco signed “J. B. HUME/Special Officer W.F. & Co.” I) All in an envelope from Wells Fargo Bank’s Historical Department. Complete with three books: “Black Bart: Boulevardier Bandit” by George Hoeper, Black Bart: The Search is Over” by Robert E. Jernigan and Wiley Joiner, and “Wells, Fargo Detective- A Biography
of James B. Hume” by Richard Dillon, featuring a photograph and description of the rifle on page 164, courtesy of the Wells Fargo Bank History Room.
CONDITION: Very good with crisp inscription, distinct barrel markings, mix of gray and brown patina and traces of original blue visible on the barrel along with patches of mild oxidation, similar dark brown patina on the hammer and lever, the classic attractive natural aged patina on the frame and buttplate, and mild overall wear consistent with use by a lawman in the Old West. The stock is also very good and has numerous light scratches and dings expected on a firearm used in the field, some wear at the nose of the comb, slight flaking at the toe, and smooth finish. The magazine spring needs some attention; otherwise, the rifle is mechanically fine. A Henry inscribed for a western lawman is an incredible rarity. Given his status, the quality of this rifle and the documented provenance, James B. Hume’s Henry Rifle would be a valuable addition to any Winchester, western, or antique arms collection. Hume’s original badges presented in the next lot would sweeten the archive.
Provenance: James B. Hume, Father of Ernest McAfee, Ernest McAfee, George Rieber, H.P. Blanchard, Robert Blanchard Jones, On Loan to Wells Fargo Museum from 1949 – 1982, Greg Martin, Michael Worley, Michael Simens, Private Collection.
Estimate: 75,000 - 130,000
Black Bart
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