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 551

Eddie & Marie Foy Photo & Illinois Theatre Program

Estimate: $500 - $700
Starting Bid
$125

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 Eddie Foy & Wife Marie Photograph, circa 1925 as well as an Illinois Theatre Program, circa 1907. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Edwin Fitzgerald (1856-1928), known professionally as Eddie Foy and Eddie Foy Sr., was a famous American actor, comedian, dancer and vaudevillian. He gained his first professional recognition in the mining camps and cow towns of the West, beginning around 1878. While performing in Dodge City, Kansas, Foy became acquainted with Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holliday. In October of 1881, Foy performed at the Birdcage Theater in Tombstone, Arizona when the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral occurred on the 26th of that month. Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment that became popular in the United States from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Called "the heart of American show business", Vaudeville was one of the most popular types of entertainment in North America for several decades. Foy was a musical comedy star and the Father of the "Seven Little Foys", a national sensation. The Foys toured successfully for over a decade, appearing in one motion picture. The family's story was filmed in 1955 as "The Seven Little Foys" with Bob Hope appearing as Foy Sr., and James Cagney as George M. Cohan; son Charley Foy narrated the film. The program from the Illinois Theatre, located in Chicago, features a photo of Foy on the cover, more details of the performance is found on page 22. Of notable interest is the front page header of "ABSOLUTELY FIREPROOF" which is a direct alluding to the infamous Chicago Iroquois Theatre fire on December 30, 1903 in which Foy, during a performance, became a hero by staying onstage until the last minute, trying to keep the audience from panicking. Survivors later praised Foy for his bravery in trying to keep the crowd calm, even as burning debris fell onto the stage all around him. Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label reads, "EDDIE FOY and his wife Taken around 1925," museum code, "P-33." Program museum code, "D-40." Both program and photograph are in preserved condition, age tanning noted. Both are in clear protective sleeves. Program measures 6.625"W x 9"L, Photograph is 6.5"W x 8.5"L. Sleeves are each 8.375"W x 10.25"L, combined weight is 6oz.

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.