DALLAS — Heritage Auctions’ February 26 sale of Historical Manuscripts & Texana featured 457 lots and realized $2.5 million in total sales from more than 5,000 registered bidders. Significant lots included items related to the Gettysburg Address and additional Lincoln material; autographs from other presidents, military leaders and artists; the first book printed in the Republic of Texas; and a signed letter from Marie Antoinette. Charging to the top of the results list was a 21-page letter from General George Custer (1839-1876) to his wife Elizabeth “Libbie” Carter, dated “Jan 2, 69.” This letter, which boldly proclaimed “The Indian war is over,” was written just over a month after the controversial Battle of the Washita River (the Washita Massacre), in which Custer’s Seventh Cavalry “attacked Black Kettle’s Southern Cheyenne village and used the tribe’s women, children and other noncombatants as human shields,” according to the lot note. Of course, the American Indian Wars did not end upon this announcement, and Custer himself was killed during the Battle of the Little Bighorn eight years later. Estimated just $16/24,000, this personal artifact ultimately crossed the block for $550,000, including buyer’s premium. Further highlights from history will be included in a future review.
