Lot 1606

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Description:

(EXECUTIONERS) WILLIAM CALCRAFT
(1800 – 1879) 19th-century English hangman, one of the most prolific of British executioners who carried out 450 executions. Calcraft was initially recruited to flog juvenile offenders held in Newgate Prison. Because with Calcraft's methods the condemned took several minutes to die, to hasten death Calcraft would sometimes dramatically pull on legs or climb on shoulders in an effort to break the victim's neck. It has been speculated that Calcraft used these methods partly to entertain the crowds, sometimes numbering 30,000 spectators or more. Rare A.Ms. (unsigned), 1p. 8vo., London, 1868, in full: 'Sir, I think you had Better apply to Governor of the Gaol Northampton as I do not now [sic] any thing about such a person. Yours &c' Tipped to an old document folder with period identification, with a clipping of his obituary.

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July 29, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000