Great Discoveries: Feds Recover Stolen Roosevelt Pocket Watch

Edwin Bailey got here into possession of a pocket watch that he believed belonged to Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty sixth president of america. In line with The Washington Publish, Bailey deliberate to promote the watch at public sale. Nevertheless, he by no means received the chance to take action.

Federal brokers seized the watch, which had been stolen in and misplaced since 1987. Final month, the watch was returned to Roosevelt’s household house on the Sagamore Hill Nationwide Historic Website in Oyster Bay, New York.

Bailey stated he initially seen the watch in one in all a collector’s shoeboxes. The inscription on the facet of the watch’s silver case caught his curiosity.

The inscription learn, “THEODORE ROOSEVELT and D.R. & C.R.R.” As such, the watch might have been associated to the previous U.S. president and Douglas Robinson and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, his brother-in-law and sister. This prompted Bailey to conduct extra analysis to get insights into the watch’s origins.

In his analysis, Bailey discovered 400 letters that Roosevelt wrote to his sister. In one in all these letters, Roosevelt referred to a watch as a “helpful current” he obtained from Douglas and Corinne Robinson.

Bailey continued to collect proof to help his perception that the watch as soon as belonged to Roosevelt. He satisfied the watch’s proprietor to place the merchandise up on the market with Blackwell Auctions with a gap bid worth of $50,000.

Surprisingly, federal brokers arrived on the public sale with a warrant to grab the watch. In addition they took all of Bailey’s watch analysis and supplies. Though it could have been disappointing for Bailey to overlook out on the chance to promote the watch at public sale, he stated he was “downright giddy” with the end result, because it meant he was proper concerning the watch belonging to Roosevelt.

Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content material author and editor with a couple of decade of expertise. He produces content material throughout a variety of industries, together with antiques, insurance coverage, and actual property. To be taught extra about Dan, please go to his web site. 

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