Rare "The Vigilantes of Montana Territory" Original Broadside

Very scarce and important poster or advertising broadside for the book, “The Vigilantes of Montana Territory” 28" x 20 1/2", framed to 32" x 24 3/8". There is damage at the edges, with an approximately 5" x 2" portion of the bottom left corner missing, but all text is retained. Circa 1866, using 13 wooden and metal typefaces in vivid red and blue ink. Known as the first piece of ephemera to advertise what is quite possibly the first book published in Montana.

The complete broadside reads: “NOW COMPLETED AND FOR SALE! / AN IMPARTIAL AND CORRECT HISTORY OF / THE VIGILANTES / OF / MONTANA TERRITORY! / Comprising a full account of the Chase, Capture, Trial, and Execution of PLUMMER'S / GREAT BAND OF / ROAD AGENTS! / Single Copies, or by the wholesale, can be secured of / D.W. TILTON & CO., / At the City Book Store, Virginia City, and at their Office on / Bridge Street, Helena, Montana. / A Liberal Reduction made on Large Orders! / SEND IN YOUR ORDERS IMMEDIATELY! / AS A LIMITED EDITION HAS BEEN PRINTED. / Price, per Copy, in Dust, - - $2.00 Greenbacks, - - $2.25."

From the Montana History Collection of Jerry "Buzz" Nyhart.

Lot 92, Sold $23,600.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.

John X. Beidler's Personal Diary and Signed Photograph

DIARY: A handwritten diary of John X. Beidler, signed on the inside front page, circa 1884. Done in an "American Diary 1884" cloth bound standard book. The book's original handwritten entries are on dated pages with the weather and the location (even for the dates with no story). Writings are notations of events, meetings, financial transactions, etc. This appears to be his log book for actions of law enforcement. Beidler was a Deputy U.S. Marshal, as noted in the beginning of the diary.

The contents includes 24 lead-in information pages (almanac type), 10 pages of misc. info (addresses, time table, etc.) and 190 pages of written logs, starting on January 1, 1884. The final 30 pages are miscellaneous writings. Fabulous content from identified locations: Assiniboine, Ft Benton, Chinook, Deer Lodge, Butte, Helena, etc.

Comes in a custom false-book leather case. 7 1/4" x 3 ¼” x ½”; case is 8 3/4" x 4"x 1 ¼”.

Condition: Worn embossed cloth covers, spine loose. The front few pages were used later, by another person, circa 1895 as a ledger of sorts.

PHOTOGRAPH: Scarce, signed X. Beidler cabinet card. A desirable hand signed copy of a photographic image of X. Beidler. A portrait of "X", full length, seated, holding his Model 1876 Winchester rifle.

Image is 5 3/4" x 4" on a 8" x 6" card. The original signature, J X Beidler, is clear and crisp, the card has some slight damage but not affecting the image. Printed on paper (most likely newspaper print) from an original image. Hang loop attached to the obverse.

Includes notarized letter from Ron Lane / Betsy Lane who discovered the diary in 1962 in Three Forks, Montana.

Provenance: From the Montana History Collection of Jerry "Buzz" Nyhart.

Lot 106, Sold $15,340.
Brian Lebel's Mesa Old West Auction - January 23, 2021. Mesa, AZ.