1025

Cripple Creek & Victor Stage Company Business Card [168044]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Transportation Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 800.00 USD
Cripple Creek & Victor Stage Company Business Card [168044]
SOLD
2,000.00USDto r******8+ buyer's premium (500.00)
This item SOLD at 2023 Jun 15 @ 08:47UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Fantastic! We've never offered this piece before. Pictorial business card for the Cripple Creek & Victor Stage Co., LC Swink proprietor. For Cripple Creek, Victor, and Colorado Springs via Cheyenne Canyon. Offices at the Colorado Springs Drug Store and Williams & Welty livery in Cripple Creek. Vignette of a six-horse Concord stagecoach! Reverse details the 3-day trip around Pike's Peak, visiting Cripple Creek & Victor, and then down Ute Pass. Stay over at the Half-Way House (on Pike's Peak). "Do not miss a stage ride over the mountains."

This business appears to date to 1898-1899. LC Swink is listed as the proprietor of the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek Stage Line in the 1898 Colorado Springs Directory. In the 1900 directory, Swink is listed as owning a freight barn. (William Gunn is listed as the proprietor of the Cripple Creek & Pike's Peak Stage Line in this directory). Swink does not appear in later CS directories or Cripple Creek directories. His name appears in articles mentioning Rocky Ford road contracts.

George Swink--likely LC Swink's father--was an agricultural pioneer in Colorado, developing the industry in Rocky Ford in the 1870s. He also served as a State Senator and Swink, Colorado is named after him. In a December 15th, 1897 article discussing the murder of a teamster, George Swink is mentioned as the owner of the Cripple Creek Stage line. Perhaps he bought the business and then had his son run it?

Previous mentions of the Cripple Creek, Victor, and Colorado Springs Stage Line in 1897 list Williams & Welty's livery as the departure point, though HB Cave is listed as manager. In July 1898, the tongue on the Swink's stage broke and 4 horses got loose in Colorado Springs, injuring an old woman.

This is a truly unique piece, worthy of any Western collection!

Date: c.1898
Country (if not USA):
State: Colorado
City: Cripple Creek
Provenance: