Erle Stanley Gardner wrist watch w/ Inscribed photo / Ventura / Perry Mason
$ 627.8
Description
Erle Stanley Gardner wrist watch w/ Inscribed photo / Ventura / Perry Mason. ERLE STANLEY GARDNER WRIST WATCH. This was Erle Stanley Gardner’s wrist watch he wore while in Ventura, CA. As a lawyer and writer this wrist watch played a vital part in Gardner’s active life. This Waltham wrist watch is with a gold plated case and was manufactured in the 1930’s. ERLE STANLEY GARDNER WRIST WATCH (Including an early inscribed photograph of him taken in Ventura, California most possibly wearing this wrist watch.) This item was part of the inventory twenty years ago of our Erle Stanley Gardner Museum which was located in Ventura, CA. I obtained this wrist watch that was once worn by the world’s greatest mystery novel writer 23 years ago in Temecula, California at the estate sale auction of Jean Gardner, the wife of Erle Stanley Gardner. This was Erle Stanley Gardner’s wrist watch he wore while in Ventura, CA. As a lawyer and writer this wrist watch played a vital part in Gardner’s active life. This Waltham wrist watch is with a gold plated case and was manufactured in the 1930’s. This wrist watch has Gardner’s original leather band and has not been cleaned and has not been worn by any other person other than Gardner. It does keep time, however, after all these years. This watch was amongst several other wrist watches that came from the estate of Jean Gardner in Temecula, California. Jean kept all of the personal items such as glasses, watches, cigarette holders, statues etc that Gardner acquired over the years and that had some personal connection in their lives. Shown with the listing here is the receipt for the purchase of this wrist watch. There were several wrist watches that came up for sale that were in Gardner Estate Sale. This watch was the oldest of the watches his wife kept and certainly the one he must have worn while in Ventura, California practicing law, writing for the pulps, as well as the first two Perry Mason books. Many of the descriptions of the buildings and streets that were in the 1920-30’s are in his first three Perry Mason books. Perry Mason’s secretary Della Street, in fact, was modeled after Jean Gardner. Gardner besides being a brilliant writer of mystery books was also a multi-faceted genius who also loved the outdoors, camping, photography and archery. Over twenty years ago we set up The Erle Stanley Gardner Museum in Ventura, California. Ventura is the birthplace of Perry Mason. We acquired as we could as many person items, artifacts as well as all first edition books and reprints and inscribed copies, letters, photographs and other ephemera that pertained to the world’s best selling mystery author. However, incredible as it seems, there was little interest in our endeavor, hence the decision was made to sell the items and there was no location to exhibit the collection. A few books have been sold on eBay, but much more is yet to be listed and sold. Included with this watch is an inscribed photo of Erle Stanley Gardner as an archer in Ventura sometime in the 1930’s while he was a young attorney living in Ventura. From the best of our observation this photo shows him wearing this wrist watch. Please see the enlarged photos of the wrist watch. I have enlarged certain parts of the photo for comparison. Papers and COA included. (Note: I’ve had this listed for awhile on eBay. The time is approaching for placement in another venue.) John Anthony Miller Phantom Bookshop Ventura, CA
