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Auction: 314 - Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1077

Custer, George Armstrong Legendary American cavalry officer (1839-76); his daring exploits during the US Civil War, including important service at Gettysburg and Appomattox, led to his quick rise to a brevet rank of major general; after the war, became one of the army´s primary Indian fighters; in June of 1876 at the Little Bighorn River in Montana, he and just 210 troopers battled a Native American force at least ten times as large and were completely annihilated; the legend of his "last stand" against overwhelming odds, popularized by his widow, has made him a household name even today. Unique and fascinating Autograph Ledger Signed twice, "G.A. Custer / Lt Col 7th Cavalry / U.S.A. / Dec 8th/70" on free front endpaper, and "G.A. Custer" on page 75, 89 pages (only seven used), 8vo, red leather with gilt title. The ledger concerns three accounts: one regarding a Captain Kimball (on pages 24-25), one for his household servant Mary Crutchfield (pages 74-75), and, most interestingly, one for money spent on racehorses. For the Kimball account, he records on January 6, 1871, that he has "Rec´d by mail draft on Kansas city bank for $400.00," and on the same day has "Rec´d per mail from Capt Kimball rect to be signed jointly and returned to County treasurer of Lyon County for Americus lot appropriated by RR for depot purposes. $20," with the additional note that it is "To be placed to our credit on tax acct." Custer and Capt Amos Kimball had purchased land in Kansas during the previous year, including the part in the town of Americus. For Mary Crutchfield, Custer lists "Monthly wages from May 18th 1870 to Dec 18th/70 at $20.00 per mo - $140.00." Subtracting $8 in goods and $10 in cash, he lists "$122.00 / Paid this 9th day of Dec 1870 to Mary Crutchfield...in full" and signs below. The most intriguing entries, on pages 50-52, have the heading "Horses" and are written out much more carefully (and in a purple ink). Custer writes that on May 23, 1871, he "Bought of Enoch Lewis near Lexington Ky, one brown colt yearling, by Ericsson, dam Mollie Eagle, She by Cavanaughs Grey Eagle, 2nd dam by Massena´s Whip for $1000.00...Colt trotted ¼ mile..." Custer arranges to pay for the colt at $10 per month. On May 19, he "Bought of J.Y. Jones for self "&" RC Barker, equally, one bl 3 yr old colt by Ashland Chief, he by Mam. Ch. 1st d by Imp Yorkshire, 2d d Imp. Flounce...out of a Capt Walker mare, she out of a mare supposed to be thoroughbred for Five Thousand dollars. Colt placed in hands of Lowell from May 19th to Oct 21st..." A third entry is for $2,500 spent in October 1872 for a four-year-old bay "Bought of Headley & Stanhope...by Imported Bonnie Scotland out of Ada Cheatham, she by Lexington out of Cottage Girl..." listing the horse´s performances as the "Best on record in the United States" with race times of "1-¼ miles in 2:9-1/2 / 1-3/4 miles in 3:7 / 3 miles in 5:29-3/4..." Some edge rubbing and surface scratching to wraps, toning to extremities, but VG/F. Much later pen note at top of signed endpaper. To put Col Custer´s spending into perspective, $5000 in 1871 would have the purchasing power of $95,000 today!

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$18,000