North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys

Sat, Jul 26, 2025 11:00AM EDT
  2025-07-26 11:00:00 2025-07-26 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/tombstone-western-heritage-museum-auction-the-earp-brothers-cowboys-20021
Join North American Auction Company on July 26th for a once-in-a-lifetime auction of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection. This extraordinary sale features the largest private collection of Tombstone history, including rare and historic pieces tied to Wyatt Earp, the Earp Brothers, and the infamous Cochise Cowboys. From original artifacts, outlaw relics, and the largest collection of C.S. Fly photographs, this is a can’t-miss event for collectors of the Old West’s most legendary chapter.
North American Auction Company tucker@naabid.com
Lot 30

C. S. Fly Boudoir Card, "Maricopa Squaws, 1880s

Estimate: $1,200 - $2,400
Current Bid
$400

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Featured in this lot is an Original C. S. Fly Boudoir Card, "Maricopa Squaws", circa 1880s. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Camillus "Buck" Sydney Fly (CS Fly, C. S. Fly, C S Fly, Buck Fly) was an Old West photographer and lawman who is regarded by some as an early photojournalist and who captured the only known images of Native Americans while they were still at war with the United States. His photographs are legendary and highly prized. Based in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, C.S. Fly (1849-1901) documented the peace treaty between Apache Chief Geronimo and the U.S. Army in 1886, as well as other iconic moments of the Old West. Fly gained access to some of the most iconic names of the 19th century: Apache Chief Geronimo and the bandits behind the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Without his studio in the notorious boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, we would be sorely lacking some dimension to our ideas of the frontier. While Fly didn't get any photographs of the actual gunfight which only lasted approximately 30 seconds, he did manage to capture both the outlaws and the lawmen on film before and after the bloodshed. Fly also served as Cochise County Sheriff from 1895 to 1897. Fly's images are very collectible and command premium prices today. Known for his photographs of Native American subjects, including the Maricopa people. His work often featured women, and the phrase "Maricopa Squaw" was used to describe some of his photographs. This Boudoir Card photograph displays three Maricopa Indian women in traditional clothing, one standing and two sitting, in Fly's Tombstone studio. The Maricopa or Piipaash are a Native American tribe, who live in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community (both in Arizona) along with the Pima. Attached Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label reads, "MARICOPA SQUAWS 1880s photo by C. S. FLY", museum code, "IN-43". Fly's studio stamp in purple ink is on reverse, "FLY'S GALLERY, TOMBSTONE, ARIZ. C. S. Fly, Proprietor." The gold gilt edged boudoir card is in well preserved condition in a clear protective plastic sleeve. Slight scuffing on edges and soiling on reverse. Gold gilt still bright. Boudoir card measures 5.25"W x 8.5"L, sleeve is 6.375"W x 9.25"L. Combined weight U6.

All items will ship at our North American Auction Company in-house shipping department. Please allow up to 14-21 days after a complete invoice payment is made to package and ship your purchase. After you are notified of your winning bids from our company and your item invoice is paid in full our new shipping department will contact you. Make sure when signing up with our company that your preferred shipping information is up to date as this information will be used to estimate shipping cost. Once the items have been packaged our team will contact you for shipping payment. Shipping invoices and payment will be completely separately than the items invoice. Please notify the shipping department with any alternate request or instructions at mark@naabid.com or 800-686-4216 ext. 3. For a shipping quote please contact the same information above. PLEASE NOTE a shipping quote price can fluctuate in price. Auction company is not responsible for actual shipping cost being higher than quoted shipping cost. Thank you for trusting North American Auction Co. with your bids and shipping. As our shipping department is brand new please understand that delays can be expected.