Lot 276
The letter is for shoes from The Griffin Shoe Company. An autographed item from Arthur Wallenda dating to 1939 is an exceptionally rare piece of circus history, as it captures the family during a pivotal geopolitical shift just as World War II was breaking out. While Karl Wallenda is the most famous patriarch of the Flying Wallendas, his brother Arthur Wallenda was an active performer and manager who ran the "Arena Wallenda" branch of the family enterprise. A letter from Arthur Wallenda written or signed in 1939 holds high historical value due to the timeline of the troupe. In the early 1930s, the Wallenda family splintered into different geographic factions. While Karl and Herman moved to the United States to perform for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Arthur and his brother Willy remained in Europe, primarily managing and performing a high-wire act in England. In the late spring and summer of 1939, as Nazi Germany prepared to invade Poland, the European branch of the Wallenda family had to abruptly leave Great Britain. They fled back to the United States to escape the impending war, eventually obtaining American citizenship. Because of this timeline, a letter from Arthur in 1939 likely deals with urgent circus bookings, international travel arrangements, or the logistics of moving the troupe's heavy high-wire rigging across the Atlantic under the threat of war. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request
- Dimensions: 8.5" x 10.5"
- Condition: Excellent Condition
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $49 | $5 |
| $50 | $99 | $5 |
| $100 | $199 | $10 |
| $200 | $499 | $25 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $9,999 | $250 |
| $10,000 + | $500 |