I feel fortunate for my career in museums and history. Occasionally, however, I find myself wishing I had worked in a more lucrative field. The July 27, 2019, Coeur d’Alene Art Auction is a case in point. Paintings by some of my favorite artists came on the block.
Their work was viewed and purchased by an overflow audience of nearly 650 packed in at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Described as “the single largest event in the field of Classic Western and American Art,” the auction sold upwards of 92 percent of the 361 lots. The total with buyer premiums cleared the staggering hurdle of $17 million, with some pieces reaching world records.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of True West.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of True West.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist? Up to a dozen members of the Reno Gang stopped a Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis train at a watering station in southern Indiana. The outlaws had prior intelligence about its main load: express car safes held about $97,000 in government bonds and notes. In the process of the job, one of the crew was killed and two others hurt. The gang made a clean getaway with the loot.
Hero of Horsepower - Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
Los Angeles lawman William Hammel tamed one of the West's wildest towns with hard work and horseless carriages.
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Wilbur Zink has preserved the Younger Gang's history in more ways than one.
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She Means Business!
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Ride that Train!
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RAILROADS WERE OPEN SEASON FOR OKLAHOMA AND INDIAN TERRITORY OUTLAW GANGS.
