A wanted poster for notorious US outlaw Jesse James has beaten its $25,000 estimate by 129.9% at an auction in Denver.
The stunning item sold for $57,475 on June 23. It reads: "Proclamation of the Governor of Missouri! Rewards for the arrest of Express and Train Robbers", also mentioning Jesse's brother Frank.
Born in Missouri in 1847, James was a Confederate guerrilla during the American civil war before turning to train robbery and bank raids.
He was killed in 1882 by Robert Ford, a member of his gang, for a $10,000 reward.
 US outlaws are proving a hit with collectors |
The auction is a firm indication of the draw that wild west memorabilia has with collectors, and items connected with the period's more nefarious characters in particular.
The only known signed photograph of the Jesse James made $51,240 at auction in 2011, far exceeding its high-end estimate of $30,000.
The circa 1883 boudoir cabinet card of Californian stagecoach robber Black Bart sold for $51,425 at the sale, up 28.6% on its $40,000 high valuation.
The auction also starred a pencil drawing of the death of George Custer, made by White Bull, the man said to have killed the general at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.
It sold for $36,300, comfortably above its high estimate of $30,000, and a confirmation of the current upward trend for Custer memorabilia: Custer's cavalry saddle made $95,000 in June 2012, destroying its $12,000 high estimate by 691.6%.
We have an extremely rare George Custer autograph available to you today for £3,950 (approx $6,140).
A parade flag used in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show performances also beat its estimate, selling for $48,400 against a $40,000 valuation.
