Page 64 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript Americana - Sale 2310 - April 16, 2013

INCLUDING A GIFT INSCRIBED FROM MOE DALITZ
124 ● COHN, ROY. Gold pocket knife, mechanical pencil, and memo pad case
inscribed to Cohn, all stamped 14K. Folding pocket knife and key with gold case and
stainless steel blade, 4 x 3/4 inches open, engraved “Roy,” made in Latama, Italy * Working
mechanical pencil engraved “Roy,” 41/4 inches long * Memorandum pad case, 2 x 3 inches
closed, stamped by the maker Van Cleef & Arpels of New York, small dent in the front
cover; engraved “RMC” on front cover, engraved inside cover “April 1958. Dear Roy, You
and us against the world. With all our love and best wishes, Averill & Moe & Suzy.”
Np, 1958 and nd [2,500/3,500]
Moe Dalitz was a renowned mobster turned Las Vegas mogul. He married Averill Knigge in
1953, and their daughter Suzanne was born in 1957. The inscription is dated at around the
same time as Cohn invested on Dalitz’s for-profit Sunshine Hospital in Las Vegas. The two
later had a falling-out; Dalitz was later quoted as saying he “would spend five years in jail to
put Roy Cohn there for one day” (see The Autobiography of Roy Cohn, page 173).
We here at Swann don’t know much about precious metals, but we are confident that this
personal gift from Dalitz to Cohn will be worth more than its weight in gold.
125 ● (COLONIAL WARS.) Josh: Scottow’s Bill of Costs agt. Mr. Rishworth.
Document Signed by Edward Rawson as Secretary of Massachusetts Bay Colony and
William Torrey as clerk of the House of Deputies. One page, 73/4 x 53/4 inches; moderate
wear with minimal loss to text. Np, 24 October 1676 [1,000/1,500]
Black Point in Maine, now known as Scarborough, was hit hard in King Philip’s War.
Captain Joshua Scottow (circa 1618-1698) was in charge of the Black Point garrison, but he
was heavily criticized by the townspeople for his passive approach, staying within the walls of
the fort while houses were attacked. Several men, including Edward Rishworth, refused to pay
taxes to support these ineffectual troops, forcing Captain Scottow to take them to court. On 12
October, while Scottow was in Boston arguing his case, a large party of Indians surrounded the
garrison, which was surrendered peacefully. Captain Scottow lost much of his property. This bill
of costs (which may be in Scottow’s hand) requests reimbursement from Massachusetts Bay
Colony for his court expenses against Rishworth as he travelled back and forth from Black
Point to the larger nearby towns of Wells and York, as well as Boston.
Reference: Pulsipher, Subjects Unto the Same King, pages 212-219. Provenance: Bangs &
Co.’s Samuel Gardner Drake sale, 29 September 1876, part of lot 489; sold to a Rawson
descendant, and thence by descent to the consignor.
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