Bonnie and Clyde Death Pants True Crime Billy the Ki (02/12/2011)...

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Bonnie and Clyde Death Pants True Crime Billy the Kid

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Bonnie and Clyde Death Pants True Crime Billy the Kid

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Sold Date: 02/12/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

Outlaw History For Sale: this is a 1" swatch cut from the actual death trousers worn by Clyde Barrow on the day he and Bonnie Parker were ambushed near Gibsland, La. on May 23, 1934. 2009 marks the 75th anniversary of their demise on a lonely Louisiana road...

Clyde Barrows trousers and shirt that he wore that day were kept in the Barrow family until Butterfield & Butterfield auctioned off the bulllet riddled shirt on April 14th 1997 in San Francisco - it fetched $85,000 (purchased by Whiskey Pete's Casino who also owns the actual death car) and the global media coverage was extensive. The trousers were cut into 870 swatches and affixed to ornate parchment like certificates numbered and hand signed by the late Marie Barrow, Clyde's sister. She co-authored the book, "The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde," with Phillip Steele (book not included). I was Marie Barrow's business partner and we used to sell these swatch certificates through Old West magazine ads, Autograph Collector magazine ads, and memorabilia & gun shows until she passed away in 1999.

I am the former co-owner of the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum. We presently have a few of these limited edition certificates left. Near mint condition accompanied with a copy of the notarized certificate by Marie Barrow attesting to the authenticity of the item and the history of the artifact. Also included is a copy of a Tulsa World newspaper article interviewing Marie and making mention of her guest appearance at the Tulsa Book & Paper Fair on November 21, 1998 and stating that she would be selling the signed, limited edition swatch certificates at the show.

MARCH 2009 : The newly published and critically acclaimed book, GO DOWN TOGETHER - The TRUE, UNTOLD STORY of BONNIE and CLYDE by Jeff Guinn, Simon & Schuster, details the history of these swatch certificates on pages 359-360. Yet more excellent provenance for owners of these limited edition pieces!

MAY 23, 2009 : article, "Outlaws Bonnie and Clyde still inspire art, 75 years later," in The Miami Herald: /living/story/1061875.html

Offered is number 96 out of the edition of 870. Size of certificate is 8 1/2 X 11". Please note that the certificate pictured here is an older one with a different number - the one up for auction is original with it's own number in the limited edition.

Over the years these have sold from a minimum reserve bid of $200.00 to more than $500.00 each at eBay auctions. Some speciality memorabilia shops have resold these swatch certificates for several times what they bought them for from me. My reserve is still $200.00 and after twelve years of marketing them, my inventory is getting low.

This listing is also placed under Jesse James and Billy the Kid sections as American Outlaw historians and collectors tend to have cross interests in these fields. It is interesting to note that Clyde Barrow idolized Jesse James and Billy the Kid. A copy of Walter Noble Burns' book, The Saga of Billy the Kid, was discovered in Bonnie and Clyde's death car and Bonnie Parker made mention of both Jesse James and Billy the Kid in her poetry.

I will send this to you via priority mail box, insured. Average cost for mailing including insurance is $9.50.