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.
North American Auction Company tucker@naabid.com
Lot 301

Sheriff Pat Garrett Calling Card, c. 1880 to 1906

Estimate: $1,700 - $3,500
Starting Bid
$600

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
For your consideration is a Sheriff Pat Garrett Calling Card, circa 1880 to 1906. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona, John McNellis, Bobby McNellis, Pat Garrett, Jarvis Garrett, R.E.M. Western Relics / El Paso Saddlery collections. In the Old West, a calling card, also called a visiting card, were small cards about the size of a modern-day business card, usually featured the name of the owner and sometimes an address. By the 19th century, men and women needed personalized calling or visiting cards to maintain their social status or to move up in society. Calling cards were left at homes, sent to individuals, or exchanged in person for various social purposes, serving as a form of social communication. Knowing and following calling card "rules" signalled one's status and intentions. Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (1850-1908) was an American Old West lawman, bartender and customs agent best known for killing Billy the Kid. He was the sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, as well as Doña Ana County, New Mexico. Prior to becoming a lawman, Garrett was a bartender at Beaver Smith’s saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. It was at the saloon that Garrett met and often gambled with William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. During his time in El Paso, Garrett spent time at a "notorious dive", The Coney Island Saloon owned by his friend, Tom Powers. During his time as Customs Inspector in El Paso, a presidential appointment and the highpoint of his life as a lawman, Garrett introduced Powers as a "cattleman" to President Teddy Roosevelt at a Rough Riders reunion in San Antonio. Later when the Texas newspapers published the truth regarding Powers being a "saloon man," Roosevelt felt like a "chump," and Garrett wasn't reinstated. This calling card would have been used by Garrett whenever he traveled to the White House or at the Rough Riders reunion. The card displays a "feather" designed bird, with a splotch "floral background" in colours of red, orange, green, and yellow. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. Letter included is from John McNellis, Vice President of El Paso Saddlery Company. El Paso Saddlery had outlaws Black Jack Ketchum and John Wesley Hardin, as well as lawmen Bat Masterson and Pat Garrett as a clients. The letter traces ownership of the calling card from Pat Garrett to Garrett's youngest son, Jarvis, who at one time worked for a subsidiary of El Paso Saddlery, R.E.M. Western Relics. Jarvis gave the calling card along with assorted other gaming items belonging to his father Pat, to McNellis who in turn gave them to the Tombstone Museum. Card has the museum code on reverse, "LO-102", comes in a protective amber plastic sleeve with a museum label, "SAMPLE CALLING CARD from PAT GARRETT'S personal effects LO-102". Amazingly well preserved with very slight age tanning. Measures 2.125"W x 3.625"L, sleeve is 2.375"W x 4.125"L. Weight is U6.

After you have succeessfully completed your purchase, including payment of your item, the shipping process will begin. Our company has partnered with a few local third party shipping vendors. Shipping will be handled between these third party business and the buyer. Auction company is not responsible for shipment or any duties there-in unless stated below. Firearms will be shipped by our company. Once you invoice has been paid for contact Mark at 800-686-4216 ext. 3 for shipping infomation on firearms. After your invoice has been paid one of the below third party shippers will pickup your items. Once these companies have created a shipping quote for you they will contract you using the contact information you have provided on your auction registration. Make sure to include the shipping address and correct contact information for a success shipping experience. For questions on shipping please contract the companies below or JoEllen at 800-686-4216 ext. 1 For shipping quotes please contract the companies below: "The UPS Store” #2420 1106 W Park St, Livingston, MT 59047 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 6:00pm Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday, CLOSED Phone: 406-222-4971 Fax: 406-222-9257 Email: store2420@theupsstore.com Postal Annex 280 West Kagy Boulevard D, Bozeman, MT 59715 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday, CLOSED Phone: 406-219-2210 Fax: 406-219-2209 Email: pa14012@postalannex.com