October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
In the annals of prison history, few inmates have a story as well know as the “Birdman of Alcatraz”, Robert Stroud. Convicted of manslaughter and murder, Stroud developed a love of birds during his prison sentence at Leavenworth State Penitentiary in Kansas. It was there that he raised and studied birds in his cell, writing 2 books on the subject and contributing significant observations to the world of ornithology. Upon his transfer to Alcatraz in 1942 Stroud was not permitted to bring his birds along, so ironically, the “Birdman of Alcatraz” never actually had any birds IN Alcatraz.
Collected here are 2 letters written by Robert Stroud while in prison, one written during his stay in Leavenworth, the 2nd written after his transfer to The Rock. The Leavenworth letter is dated November 29, 1942, addressed to Mamie E. Stroud (presumably his mother, Elizabeth) of 414 E. 6th Street, Metropolis, IL. It is typewritten on lined paper, stamped with the designation ‘CENSORED 1”, and includes Stroud’s signature at the bottom, above the typewritten name Robert Stroud, 17431 (Stroud’s prisoner # at Leavenworth). The 2nd letter is completely handwritten on identical lined paper, addressed once again to Mamie E. Stroud of Metropolis, IL, and dated October 8, 1946. This letter is stamped with an R.R. B. designation, and the letter closing reads: “Love, Bob” and is signed “Robert Stroud, 594” (his prisoner # at Alcatraz Island).