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Frank Tenney Johnson wrote in a letter to his wife Vinnie, “Well, here I am, 50 miles from a railroad and in a most beautiful country, a wonderful land. I got up bright and early and after eating as good a breakfast as one could wish for went out into the cool refreshing mountain air. I stand in well with the stage driver and last night he asked me if I wanted to ride with him on the front seat. Of course I did as it is the finest seat on the coach. There were three other passengers who rode inside, but I had the grandest seat of them all; and I will say right here that I never had as fine a ride before in my life. It impressed me more than anything I have yet experienced.” ...

In his next letter to Vinnie describing the stage to Steamboat Springs, Frank wrote, “... I offered to drive and give his hands a rest, and he let me do so for over five miles. At first the driver looked a little uneasy for fear I couldn’t handle the reins and wouldn’t make the right allowance for the sharp curves, but I hadn’t watched the old driver getting past his curves for 50 miles between Walcott and Yampa for nothing, so I did the very same way and after that the driver took it easy and looked at the landscape.”

VERSO:
Signed and titled in the artist’s hand
Label, Grand Central Art Galleries

PROVENANCE:
Grand Central Art Galleries, New York, New York
Private Collection, La Jolla, California

Condition ReportLined, surface condition excellent, no inpainting.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders; such statements are educated opinions and should not be regarded as facts. The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has no responsibility for any errors or omissions.