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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 405

John Wesley Hardin Signed Beulah M'rose Note RARE

Estimate: $2,500 - $5,000
Starting Bid
$750

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
The lot features an original and historic signature by John Wesley Hardin the famous gunfighter on a note given to his lover Helen Beulah M'rose circa 1894-1895 from the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum collection and the McNellis collection. This is quite possibly one of the most notable signed pieces from John Wesley Hardin, as his affair with Helen Beulah M'rose led to his killing. The piece is handwritten by Hardin with the following, “’There are no roses without thorns.’ J.W.H.” When Hardin was released from prison in early 1894, he became and attorney, setting up an office in El Paso, Texas. At this point started his tumultuous love affair with his girlfriend Helen Beaulah Mrose (M'ROSE OR MROZ). Hardin called her “his rose” and after an argument would give her a rose to make up. This is an authentic slip he sent her with one of those roses with an inscription about roses and signed by him. Helen Beulah Mrose met John Wesley Hardin when he became a member of the Pecos City Bar opening his law office, she was the wife of cowboy Martin Mrose, who was arrested for cattle rustling. Later John Selman, Jr. arrested Beulah M’rose on August 6, 1895, which set the final chapter of Hardin’s murder into motion. Many historians believe that the fallout over the M'rose killing was part of the motivation behind John Selman's execution of Hardin. John Wesley Hardin was also known by the names of Little Arkansas, Wesley Clements, J.H. Swain, J.H. Hardin and was a noted gambler, card sharp, cowboy, cattle rustler, gunfighter, outlaw and lawyer. Provenance: From the historic Tombstone Western Heritage Museum collection, the card was donated to the museum from the McNellis collection of Robert and John McNellis, the most noted John Wesley Hardin collectors. The signed slip measures 4.25-inches by 1 3/8-inches which is displayed in a 6.25-inches by 4-inches slip. Museum numbers: LO-31.

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