North American Auction Company
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The West Rides Again: Tombstone Museum Part II, Western Art & Navajo Treasures

Sat, Nov 15, 2025 11:00AM EST
  2025-11-15 11:00:00 2025-11-15 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : The West Rides Again: Tombstone Museum Part II, Western Art & Navajo Treasures https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/the-west-rides-again-tombstone-museum-part-ii-western-art-navajo-treasures-21122
Join North American Auction Company on November 15th for Part II of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection with other rare items. 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 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 116

Josephine Sadie Earp Photograph, circa 1890-1915

Estimate: $1,500 - $3,000
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
Featured in this lot is a Rare Framed Original Josephine Sarah "Sadie" Earp Photograph, circa 1890 to 1915. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. The photograph shows Josephine "Sadie" Earp standing in front of one the many homes she and her husband, legendary Old West lawman Wyatt Earp lived in during their years in California. Josephine Sarah "Sadie" Earp (née Marcus; 1861-1944), was the common law wife of Wyatt Earp, the famed Old West lawman and gambler. They met in 1881 in the frontier boomtown of Tombstone in Arizona Territory, when she was living with Johnny Behan, sheriff of Cochise County. "Sadie" was a popular nickname for "Sarah". Sadie met Behan in Prescott, Arizona Territory around 1874 under the assumed name of Sadie Mansfield, who was a known prostitute. From 1882 in San Francisco, Sadie remained as Wyatt's life companion for 46 years until his death. Wyatt and Sadie lived in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Vidal in San Bernadino County, California where they had their "Happy Days" mine. Wyatt and Josie lived in at least four different locations in San Francisco and nine small Los Angeles rentals as early as 1885 and as late as 1929. According to many who knew them, their relationship was often stormy. Wyatt had a mischievous sense of humor. He knew his wife preferred the name "Josephine" and detested "Sadie", but early in their relationship he began calling her 'Sadie'. Throughout her later life, Josephine worked hard to manage what the press and public knew about her and Wyatt's life in Arizona. Josephine told Earp's biographers and others that Earp did not drink, never owned gambling saloons, and that his saloons did not offer prostitutes, which all have been documented. In addition to burnishing the life and legend of husband Wyatt Earp, "she scripted a history of make believe to hide a number of things of which she was not terribly proud". Reverse of the photograph is labeled at the bottom, "Josephine Earp", Tombstone Western Heritage Museum code along left border, "P459". Photograph is in good overall condition, exhibits age tanning consistent with its age, tears noted at top border. Measures 3.125"W x 4.75"L, clear protective plastic sleeve is 3.875"W x 6.125"L. Combined weight is U6.

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