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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 147

RARE C.S. Fly Cochise County Cowboys Photograph

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000
Current Bid
$5,000

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
This is the most important and historic Tombstone photograph in existence and one of the most important outlaw photographs all time, the C.S. Fly photo of the famed Cochise County Cowboys circa 1880 which includes Billy Clanton making this the only known photograph of Billy Clanton alive, from the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, ex-collection of historian John D. Gilchriese, author, ex-collection of historian William Hattich, and ex-collection of noted Cochise Sheriff John H. Behan with supporting letter. The photograph comes complete with a plaque from the museum that reads as follows: The Cowboys - From left to right: Frank Stilwell, Billy Claiborne, Billy Clanton, behind him is John Ringo, Ike Clanton, Phin Clanton, and Pony Deihl, Tom and Frank McLaury. - They are posing for C.S. Fly on the Clanton Ranch. Most likely it's Fly's wagon in the background. This is the only known, and authentic photograph of William “Billy” Clanton alive, only known photograph of the “Cowboy” gang all together, and only known photograph of Billy Clanton together with Tom and Frank McLaury before they were killed at the O.K. Coral shootout with the Earps. Provenance: The photograph is accompanied by a handwritten letter from famed historian and author John D. Gilchriese, authenticating the photograph; in the letter Gilchriese is selling the piece to Stephen Elliot of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum dated 1995 and notes that he received it from famed Tombstone author William Hattich in 1960, Hattich received the photograph from Cochise County Sheriff John H. Behan. Hattich and Gilchriese both wrote a book together before Hattich death. William “Billy” Hattich also owned the Tombstone Prospector newspaper and Tombstone Epitaph as owner and editor, which he purchased in 1895. He was known to be a Tombstone historian and received the photo from John H. Behan during these early historic days. John H. Behan was the Cochise County Sheriff from 1881 to 1882 during the height of the O.K. Coral shooting, Cowboy Gangs and the Earps. C.S. Fly, Camillus “Buck” Sydney Fly (1849-1901) is one of the most noted photographers of the Old West, he and his wife Mary, also a photographer, moved to Tombstone in 1879 and established a photography studio there. Fly was an eyewitness of October 26, 1881, to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which took place outside his photography studio. He was one of the earliest known photojournalists of the Old West and the only known photographer to take images of Native Americans while they were still at war with the U.S. He later served as Cochise County Sheriff from 1895 to 1897, Since most of his negatives were destroyed by fires, his photographs are highly prized. The condition of this C.S. Fly Photograph is preserved with some wear and tears to the mounted photo to cardstock and significant browning to the photograph due to age but otherwise is in preserved condition. This is by far the most historic Tombstone photograph in existence and one of the most iconic photographs of the Old West and is directly tied to the OK Coral shootout and one of the most iconic moments in Western History. Truly on par with the historic photograph of Billy the Kid. The measurements of this photograph is 4 3/8" x 6 3/4". This is by far the most historic and rare Tombstone photograph to ever exist, and possibly one of the rarest photo's of outlaws. Museum number: LO-78.

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