2090

California Gold Rush Illustrated Lettersheet: James King of William Assassination [166979]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Paper Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 3,000.00 USD
California Gold Rush Illustrated Lettersheet: James King of William Assassination  [166979]
SOLD
1,200.00USD+ (300.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 Jun 16 @ 10:00UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Very rare. Hart, p. 223. Baird 5; Clifford 6. Printed by Britton & Rey. Unused illustrated lettersheet with four illustrations related to the assassination of James King of William by James P. Casey. Illustrations include: the assassination of James King of William; the funeral of James King of William; the surrender of the jail; and the execution of Casey. Illustrations are 4.75 x 6.75". Sheet is 11 x 17" Black print on blue paper. Repairs and other condition issues; please see photos.

James King of William opened his own bank in San Francisco in 1849. On a return trip from New York from a meeting with his backers Corcoran & Riggs, King met Augustus Humbert, appointed to the newly formed US Assay Office at San Francisco. In March, 1851, King sent Humbert gold coins of Dubosq, Baldwin and Schultz & Co. for assay. King was outraged at the results, and sent copies of Humbert's letter to every newspaper in San Francisco. This caused him to earn the full distrust and disgust of many.. By 1854, King was bankrupt, which he blamed on the competition. His assets were sold to Adams & Co. in 1854. The next year he started a newspaper that was every bit as controversial as his Assay Office letter. He was a member of the first Vigilance Committee, but it didn't do him any good. King was assassinated on May 14, 1856 by James P. Casey, one of the people he "accosted" with his newspaper writings. King's death resulted in the establishment of the second San Francisco Vigilance Committee and changed the politics of the city. The Vigilance Committee hung the man who shot him, and King is given credit for rousting the criminal element from City government. King was among the first newspapermen to be honored by the California Journalism Hall of Fame.



Date: c.1856
Country (if not USA):
State: California
City: San Francisco
Provenance: