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Up for sale is a fantastic, intact 4-piece archive of Texas travel history dating to November 1947.
This collection was found paperclipped together, preserving a complete, unbroken snapshot of a mid-century trip taken by a Mr. Ira Butler from Fort Worth to Austin, Texas. Items like this are highly sought after by rail history enthusiasts and regional Texas collectors because they tell a cohesive story.
The Historical Story:
In November 1947, Mr. Ira Butler boarded a train in Fort Worth, heading south to the state capital. He traveled in style, booking luxury sleeping car accommodations managed by The Pullman Company. He likely rode on the famous Missouri-Kansas-Texas (M-K-T) Railroad, known affectionately as The Katy Line. Upon arriving in Austin, he checked into the prestigious Stephen F. Austin Hotel on Congress Avenue—the legendary hub for Texas politicians and businessmen. His bill shows he stayed in room 551 on November 3, 1947, paying a room rate of just $4.50 in cash before taking his return Pullman sleeper back to Fort Worth.
This cohesive 4-piece collection includes:
- Stephen F. Austin Hotel Bill (Nov 3, 1947): An authentic, duplicate guest receipt from the iconic downtown Austin hotel. It details Mr. Butler\'s stay, room rate, and cash payment stamps.
- M-K-T \"The Katy\" Railroad Illustrated Envelope: A vintage mailer featuring a beautiful graphic of a steam locomotive and the historic company slogan, \"For a Greater Southwest.\"
- Two (2) Pullman Company Passenger Ticket Checks: Authentic paper receipts for his luxury sleeping car accommodations—one covering the route south from Fort Worth to Austin, and the matching check for his return journey.
Condition:
Excellent vintage condition for paper of this age. Normal light creasing from being folded and stored over the last 80 years. No major tears, stains, or missing text. Colors, handwriting, and stamps remain crisp and highly legible.
Ships flat, protected in a plastic sleeve, and securely sandwiched between thick cardboard to ensure it arrives safely.
PLEASE NOTE that I make NOTHING on shipping. Rates are calculated by your address from USPS.
