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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 248

Rare C. S. Fly Cabinet Card S. L. Hart, 1878-1890

Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
Starting Bid
$400

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 Extremely Rare C. S. Fly Cabinet Card of S. L. Hart, 1882. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Camillus "Buck" Sydney Fly (CS Fly, C. S. Fly, C S Fly, Buck Fly) was an Old West photographer and lawman who is regarded by some as an early photojournalist and who captured the only known images of Native Americans while they were still at war with the United States. His photographs are legendary and highly prized. Based in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, C.S. Fly documented the peace treaty between Apache Chief Geronimo and the U.S. Army in 1886, as well as other iconic moments of the Old West. Fly gained access to some of the most iconic names of the 19th century: Apache Chief Geronimo and the bandits behind the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Without his studio in the notorious boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, we would be sorely lacking some dimension to our ideas of the frontier. While Fly didn't get any photographs of the actual gunfight which only lasted approximately 30 seconds, he did manage to capture both the outlaws and the lawmen on film before and after the bloodshed. Fly also served as Cochise County Sheriff from 1895 to 1897. Fly's images are very collectible and command premium prices today. Samuel Lombard Hart (1830-1893) was a very highly regarded and skilled gunsmith over his ten years in Tombstone. If gun repairs were needed, Hart's on Freemont Street was the place to go, located just a short distance from the famous Fly Photography studio and right next door to the O.K. Corral. On Oct. 26th of 1881 Hart, while working in his store, would be one of the relatively few witnesses to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral that made Tombstone and the Earp's famous. Guns that were re-worked or repaired by Hart were often stamped with his logo, which was the letters S and L over a "heart," an artistic yet compact and simple way of saying "S.L. Hart." S.L. was entrusted with both basic repairs as well as also sought out for his special Colt pistols. Some of Hart's more notable clients were US Marshal Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, outlaw Ike Clanton and Buckskin Frank Leslie. It has been said that the legacy of S.L. Hart as gunsmith to the cowboys, gamblers, lawmen, and gunfighters of Tombstone cannot be over estimated. A "Tombstone" Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Hart's markings on it sold at a Rock Island Auction Company 2010 auction for $32,500.00. Today a firearm with the "S.L. Hart" stamp is almost priceless. Fly's gold gilt studio stamp is on the bottom border, "FLY'S GALLERY, TOMBSTONE, A. T." Reverse has museum code handwritten on top right corner, "TTP16." Attached Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label reads, "-S. L. HART- Well-respected gunsmith in 1880 Tombstone Samuel Lombard "Lum" Hart was born in Wisconsin in 1830. He was in the Signal Corps in the Civil War and died in Tucson in 1893. He is 52 years old in this 1882 Tombstone photo", museum code, "TTP-16." The gold gilt edged cabinet card is in well preserved condition in a clear protective plastic sleeve. Very slight scuffing on edges. Gold gilt still bright. Cabinet card measures 4.25"W x 6.5"L, sleeve is 5.875"W x 7.25"L, combined weight U6.

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