Description:

Buffalo Bill Personally Owned Stetson Fur Hat, Provenance from a Knights Templar, With His Sword

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody – personally owned and used Stetson hat. Circa 1900. Although the hat interior lining is now torn and pulled away, the original label remains-"John B. Stetson and Company, Philadelphia / Made of Nutria fur", (also known as coypu fur, is used in the fashion industry. It comes from the coypu, a South American rodent and cousin of the beaver). The original hat box is 16.25" in diameter, the hat is 15.5" at the widest point of the brim. The hat box is worn, and taped along the top, the hat remains in excellent condition except the interior lining as noted above.  Buffalo Bill Cody was a natty dresser and usually wore a broad-brimmed Stetson, both while performing and in his private life. A lightly nicked cabinet card of Buffalo Bill wearing a similar hat is included with the hat.

Accompanied by the following important provenance:

 A handwritten note accompanies the hat coming from a Knight's Templar, reading "Buffalo Bill's real hat. Andy purchased it 55 years ago for $10", dated Nov. 1967. On the back of the note it reads: "Purchased out west about 1912 Contact Stetson valuable as a collector item".  The hat is additionally accompanied by Andy Foster's personal Knights Templar sword, a collectible in it own right. The sword is manufactured by "Frank Henderson Kalamazoo, Michigan" which is etched into the blade along the top. Frank Henderson began selling and manufacturing swords and regalia in 1850. In 1871 he partnered with Theron F. Giddings and in 1873 resumed trade as Frank Henderson. Then he began association with the Ames Sword Company and in 1893 formed the Henderson-Ames Company. The  sword has Andy's name of  "A.J. Foster", etched into the blade along with the important numerous Knights Templar markings of: 

1) The nine point star located at the end of each handle.

2) The Knights Templar cross placed in the center of each star ( the nine points, an allusion to the nine founders of the Temple Order, in addition to the concept of three interlaced equilateral triangles,  the equilateral triangle has been symbolic of Deity (omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence); also of creation (animal, vegetable, mineral) and of man (body, mind, soul).

3) Other Knights Templar etchings include the Templar cross located at the end of the eye/face guard.

4) An etching of a Templar Knight on the surface of the blade holding a flag with the Knights Templar star symbol found within the flag. 

The Masonic Order of Knights Templar was brought to this country from England sometime in the middle of the 18th century. The first Templar to be initiated in the United States was William Davis who was given the degrees of Excellent, Super Excellent, Royal Arch, and Knight Templar by the St. Andrew's Royal Arch Lodge on August 28, 1769. Also, Paul Revere was initiated on December 11, 1769, and on May 14, 1770, Joseph Warren, another Revolutionary War hero, would add his name to the roster of early American Templars. (Dafoe). The sword is  approximately 36" in length and is housed in a worn leather sheath which is 38" long. The sheath has Andy Fosters name neatly printed along the top as "A.J. Foster / Joplin Mo"

In 1882, while visiting his home and ranch near North Platte, Nebraska, "Buffalo Bill" Cody organized and put on his first official rodeo type event for the town’s Fourth of July celebration. Though these types of events weren't called rodeos at the time, it was as much the kind of event that would later be known as a rodeo as anything else held in those days. His show was a spectacular one. The day included bronco busting, buffalo and steer roping and riding, and shooting contests. In 1883, Bill Cody debuted his first official Wild West show in Omaha, Nebraska. This show not only featured sharp shooting, races, and reenactments, it also strongly featured cowboy skills such as riding and roping. Its debut was a huge success and it was this show, in various forms for a period of 30 years, that would take early, rodeo type events not just all over the American East and West, but abroad to such cities as London, Rome, and Paris.

An extraordinary set... with a more extraordinary chain of custody and provenance!

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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