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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.
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Lot 535

California Joe Personally Owned by Earle R Forrest

Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Starting Bid
$250

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 this rare, 1935 first edition copy of, "Californa Joe" by Joe. E. Milner (California Joe) and Earle R. Forrest, owned by Earle R. Forrest and signed by one of the writers / actors, Don (Donald) "Red" Barry and actress Helen Talbot in 1946-47. This rare volume is made all the more significant by the autographs of actor Don "Red" Barry and actress Helen Talbot—two leading stars of the 1943 Republic Pictures Western California Joe, which was inspired by the exploits recounted in this very work. Joe E. Milner was a Western historian and writer who documented frontier life, while Earle R. Forrest, an excellent novelist and photographer, focused on the American Southwest and frontier people. Together, they created a fascinating story about Sergeant Moses Embree Milner, well known as "California Joe," a famed army scout who served under General George Armstrong Custer. The book is personally signed by Don "Red" Barry, well known for his depiction of Red Ryder and a slew of B-Western heroes in the 1940s, and Helen Talbot, a popular actress in Republic serials and Westerns during the same period. The book features a green hard cover with gold gilt lettering on the front reading, "California Joe" as well as the authors names, "Joe E. Milner and Earle R. Forrest". The title, authors and publishers / printers are written in gold gilt lettering on the spine as well. On the first page, above the signatures, is a small clipping of The Reporter newspaper on 1948, detailing the anniversary of Joe E. Milner's (California Joe) death. Also included in this lot is a photo print of Moses E. Milner (California Joe) from the Rose Collection in San Antonio, Texas. It shows Milner posing for a photo in a studio while a large tobacco pipe hangs out of his mouth. The book shows good condition overall with little to no wear present and no signs of damage noted. Interior pages are in good condition with no foxing, staining or major rips. The book measures 7 5/8" L x 5 5/8" W x 1 3/8" D, while the photo print measures 8" L x 5" W. They have a collective weight of 1 pound and 6 ounces. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. BK46 P229

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