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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 409

Rare "Tucson Citizen" Newspapers May, 1925

Estimate: $600 - $800
Starting Bid
$200

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 are two Rare, "Tucson Citizen" Newspapers from Tucson, Arizona, May, 1925. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. From the ex-collection of the S. L. Hart estate. Each paper focuses on respective regions of Arizona, "See Arizona First - Northern Arizona" and "See Arizona First - Southern Arizona". The Southern Arizona edition features a two-page story on Tombstone, recounting its notorius past with accompanying advertisements from local Tombstone businesses. 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. Today a firearm with the "S.L. Hart" stamp is almost priceless. One of Arizona's earliest, "Tucson Citizen" was a newspaper published in Tucson, Arizona Territory, starting in 1870. It started as the Arizona Citizen in 1870 and later became the Tucson Citizen in 1901. The newspaper was known as the afternoon paper in Tucson, publishing six days a week. It was one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in Arizona. Originally published by John Wasson, the weekly paper was sold to John P. Clum in 1877. Clum then started the affiliated daily newspaper, the Daily Arizona Citizen, in February 1879, while the weekly paper continued to be published for many years. In 1880 Clum sold his interest in the Citizen then moved to Tombstone and founded the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper. Clum eventually became mayor of Tombstone and a lifelong friend with Wyatt Earp and became one of his greatest supporters. The Northern Arizona edition front page features a "vacation map of Arizona resorts". The Southern edition features a black and white photograph of Maiden Hair Falls, Mount Lemmon, Santa Catalinas". Both editions are in amazingly preserved condition, brittle paper has multiple tears along the fold creases and edges. Age tanning consistent with 100 year old age. Each measures 12"W x 18"L folded.

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