North American Auction Company
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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 432

Josephine Earp Hand Addressed Envelope & Photo

Estimate: $1,800 - $3,200
Starting Bid
$300

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
For your consideration is an Original Hand Addressed Envelope and Photo of Josephine Earp, 1929. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Cancelled postal stamp shows a date two months after Josephine's husband Wyatt Earp had died. Envelope was addressed to John H. Flood Jr., Wyatt's personal secretary late in Earp's life, who completed the only authorized biography of Earp. When Earp died, Flood inherited many of his personal belongings. Flood in turn willed them to John Gilchriese. Gilchriese was an amateur historian and longtime collector of Earp memorabilia who actually interviewed John H. Flood Jr., Wyatt Earp’s secretary, several times before his death in 1959. The photo was taken on July 4, 1921 by Wyatt at their Vidal, California home for Albert Behan, former Tombstone Sheriff John Behan's son. Sheriff John had sided with the outlaw Cochise County Cowboys in their feud against Wyatt, his brothers and Doc Holliday. Both the envelope and the photo are protected by a clear plastic sleeve. Attached Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label reads, "JOSEPHINE EARP on her porch in Vidal, Ca. Taken by Wyatt on July 4th 1921 for Albert Behan (John's son)", museum code, "P-128". Reverse of the envelope shows Josephine's handwritten return address, handwritten date 7-4-21. Both items are in good preserved condition, age tanning and slight foxing noted. Envelope measures 4.5"W x 5.5"L, photo is 2"W x 2.5"L. Sleeve is 6.375"W x 9.25"L, combined weight is U6.

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