Roy Rogers • Custom Loveless • Elephant Leather & Rabbit Fur • Hunting & Safari Commemorative Boots
An extraordinary pair of custom-made Loveless cowboy boots belonging to Roy Rogers (1911–1998), the legendary American entertainer known as the “King of the Cowboys.” Formerly part of the Roy Rogers–Dale Evans Museum collection, these elephant leather boots feature rabbit-fur interiors and elaborate personalized designs commemorating significant people, places, and hunting expeditions throughout Rogers’ life.
Constructed with contrasting black and gray elephant leather, the boots feature tall shafts decorated with Rogers’ distinctive double-R monograms and individually designed commemorative motifs.
The front shafts celebrate Rogers’ entertainment career and personal life. One features a portrait of his famous palomino, Trigger, accompanied by the words “Happy Trails.” The other honors Roy and his wife, Dale Evans, as the “King and Queen of the Cowboys.”
The reverse sides document Rogers’ interests in hunting and international travel.
One shaft features a pronghorn antelope and the inscription “One Shot Antelope Hunt,” referencing the celebrated annual hunting competition near Lander, Wyoming. Rogers participated in the 1962 event, an appearance documented in historical photographs preserved by the University of Wyoming.
The opposite shaft displays the outline of the African continent, accompanied by the word “Safari” and the numbers 56, 62, and 67. These markings appear to commemorate Rogers’ African hunting expeditions, during which he pursued game including Cape buffalo and greater kudu.
The boots are further distinguished by their rabbit-fur interiors, an unusual construction detail consistent with the original auction description.
Specifications
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Maker: Loveless Custom Boots
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Original Owner: Roy Rogers
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Era: Late 20th century; exact manufacturing date undetermined
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Leather: Elephant
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Color: Black and gray
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Interior: Rabbit-fur lining
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Design: Custom commemorative hunting, safari, and personal inlays
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Heel-to-Toe Outsole Length: 11 5/8 inches
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Widest Outsole Width: 3 7/8 inches
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Marked Size: Not confirmed
Provenance
Following the closure of the Roy Rogers–Dale Evans Museum in 2009, these boots were included in the dispersal of its collection.
They appeared in Brian Lebel’s Denver Old West Auction on June 26, 2010, offered alongside one of Rogers’ personal Stetson hats.
The original auction catalog describes the distinctive black-and-gray boots, their One Shot Antelope Hunt and Safari decorations, and their rabbit-fur lining, providing an important historical record of the pair.
Historical Significance
Unlike conventional decorative cowboy boots, this pair was designed around specific events and individuals from Roy Rogers’ life. The combination of personalized imagery, exotic elephant leather, rabbit-fur lining, and documented museum provenance makes them an exceptional example of commemorative Western bootmaking.
These boots represent a direct connection between one of America’s most recognizable Western entertainers and the custom bootmaking tradition that helped define his public image.
Collection: Nashville Booted Online Cowboy Boot Museum
Provenance: Roy Rogers–Dale Evans Museum; Brian Lebel’s Denver Old West Auction, June 26, 2010.
