North American Auction Company
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The West Rides Again: Tombstone Museum Part II, Western Art & Navajo Treasures

Sat, Nov 15, 2025 11:00AM EST
  2025-11-15 11:00:00 2025-11-15 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : The West Rides Again: Tombstone Museum Part II, Western Art & Navajo Treasures https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/the-west-rides-again-tombstone-museum-part-ii-western-art-navajo-treasures-21122
Join North American Auction Company on November 15th for Part II of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection with other rare items. 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 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 308

Watervale Jail Keys found by Tom Hartman c. 1880-

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 is this pair of Jail Keys found by Tom Hartman in Watervale, Arizona circa 1880-1910 and were displayed in the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum; Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. There are two separate keys in this collection found by Tom Hartman in the 1980's. The first key is a hefty skeleton key with two teeth tines and a loop handle with a open cavity in the tip of the key. The second key is more squat with a single tooth tine and a solid core tip with a loop handle. The keys comes complete with an original museum tag that reads as follows: Jail key found in Watervale by Tom Hartman in the 1980's. Watervale, Arizona, was a small 19th-century settlement located in the Huachuca Mountains of Cochise County, primarily active during the late 1800s. It emerged as a modest stopover and milling site serving nearby mining operations, benefiting from its access to water—an invaluable resource in the arid frontier. Though never large, Watervale supported a few businesses, a mill, and ranching activity, catering to miners and travelers moving through the region. Like many such settlements, it faded as ore deposits dwindled and larger towns like Tombstone and Bisbee drew away economic activity. Today, little remains of Watervale beyond traces of its foundations and scattered historical references. The condition of this pair of Watervale jail keys is well preserved with oxidation and patina consistent with age but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. The measurements of this pair of keys is 4 1/2" x 2" x 1/2" and 5 7/8" x 2 1/8" x 3/8". The collective weight of this pair of keys is 6oz. LO210, LO209

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