Baldwin Marked Canon City Spurs

Robert Baldwin Canon City Prison spurs. A significant pair of Canon City spurs, with Robert Baldwin's prisoner number "9647" under each shank. Bands are 1” with central domed engraved buttons. Shanks are 2 ¾” with roller-style chap guard and full overlaid top. 16-point, 1 7/8” rowels. Excellent condition, all gray, sharp clear engraving. Floral tooled straps.

In 1915 Baldwin was arrested for the heinous crime of suffocating his infant son. He was charged with first degree murder and on June 29, 1915, convicted and sentenced to life at the State Penitentiary. He served nearly ten years and then, one day, just simply disappeared. For the warden, Tom Tynan, his escape became a huge embarrassment and prisoner #9647's whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.

Provenance: From the Estate of Roger Wilmot.

Lot 128, Sold $11,210.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.

The Estate of Larry Howard

Brian Lebel's Mesa Auction - January 21, 2017
Lot 51: Tom Mix's Personal Cowboy Boots. Sold $5,175
Lot 52: Bob Baldwin Canon City Spurs made for Tom Mix. Est. Sold $16,100

Lot 49: Tom Mix's Personal Batwing Chaps.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Auction - January 21, 2017
Sold $19,550

Larry W. Howard passed away at his home in Dewey, Arizona on August 9, 2016. It will go down as a sad day in the cowboy collecting world, as Larry was one of our own, and one of our best. Larry did things the right way – he was fair, honest, generous. He was well-respected and well-liked by dealers and collectors because if you knew Larry, you knew two things about him: 1) he knew the good stuff, and 2) he would treat you fairly. 

Larry was, like so many of us, an incurable collector. But when Larry fell for something, he collected the best – whether cars, saddles, spurs, buildings… it didn’t matter. Larry understood that the best items in any category would always be great. His admiration of Tom Mix lead to a collection of some of the world’s best personal Tom Mix items. 

He was a collector and lover of California spurs and bits, and believed that the work involved was truly fine art. He strove to make sure that art got the credit it deserved.

Larry also appreciated the “art” of dealing and collecting. He didn’t like that the collecting world had gotten complicated. He felt that collecting and selling had lost its fun. He started his show in Prescott, Arizona to host a gathering of friends and collectors, so that they could spend time together and have fun. Like the old days. 

He had many friends and followers, and I think that over almost 30 years of running shows, I’ve been asked, “Where can I find Larry Howard’s table?” more than any other dealer. Larry liked to hear everyone’s opinions, especially his own. The thing is, he was usually right. I counted on him for his opinion quite often myself. I will miss him, and his opinions.

-- Brian Lebel, January 2017

Lot 260: Canon City Double Mounted "Slipper" Spurs.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Auction - January 21, 2017
Sold $10,925