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 31

Rare Tintype Photograph of "Drovers", c. 1860-70s

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500
Starting Bid
$350

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
Included in this lot is a Rare Tintype Photograph of "Drovers", circa 1860s to 1870s, with contemporary enlarged version. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. In the Old West, drovers were the people who drove large herds of stock - sheep, horses or cattle - from the ranch to the nearest railroad for shipment to eastern markets. These long journeys, often spanning hundreds of miles, were a defining feature of the cattle industry during that era. Drovers faced numerous challenges including harsh weather, dangers from wild animals, and the constant need to ensure the well-being of the cattle. Cattle drives involved cowboys on horseback moving herds of cattle long distances to market. Cattle drives were at one time a major economic activity in the American West, particularly between the years 1866-1895, when 10 to 20 million cattle were herded from Texas to railheads in Kansas for shipments to stockyards in Chicago and points east. Due to the extensive treatment of cattle drives in fiction and film, the cowboy tending to a herd of cattle has become the worldwide iconic image of the American West. The tintype shows three drover cowboys, one standing behing two who are seated. The seated drovers each have a bullwhip in hand. Attached Tombstone Western Heritage Museum label reads, "Drovers 1860's - 1870's", museum code, "EX-41". Tintype and photograph are each in good preserved overall condition, in a clear protective sleeve. Tintype measures 2.5"W x 3.25"L, photograph is 4.25"W x 7"L, sleeve is 5.875"W x 7.25"L. Collective weight is U6.

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