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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 184

Rare O.K. Corral Tombstone Scrimshaw Elk Jawbone

Estimate: $2,500 - $4,500
Starting Bid
$800

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 O. K. Corral Tombstone Elk Jawbone Scrimshaw by John Hybl, 20th century. The images are of Wyatt, Morgan, and Virgil Earp as well as Doc Holliday. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. The Earps and Holliday are known in Tombstone history for the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, a legendary event in the American Old West, occurred on October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona, between lawmen and a group of outlaws, lasting about 30 seconds and resulting in three deaths. Historically, scrimshaw was a form of folk art practiced by 19th century whalers, involving engraving or carving designs onto whale bone, ivory, or walrus tusks, often used as a form of creative expression during long voyages. Modern scrimshaw artists rarely use whale bone anymore, though it is still employed by a few. Common modern materials are include elk, horse and cow jawbones. Artist John Hybl also created a scrimshaw plaque of former Texas Rangers Leander H. McNelly and Frank Hamer which was donated to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas. Hamer is notable for having led the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. This elk jawbone (mandible) features the four named scrimshaw images, 1881, TOMBSTONE ARIZONA as well as the artist's hallmark, JH. The museum plastic placard included, "HAND SCRIMSHAWED AND DONATED BY: JOHN HYBL." The scrimshaw is in very nice condition, the jawbone is solid displaying a rich patina. Measures 17.5"L x 11.5"W x 2.5"D, weight is 1lb, 14oz.

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