Items from Old West lawman Wyatt Earp to be auctioned
Personal items of legendary Tombstone lawman Wyatt Earp are set to be auctioned in Illinois at the end of September.
Artifacts that belonged to Earp, known as the lawman of the American Old West, will be put up for auction by Donley Auctions in Union, Illinois, on Sept. 23-24 as part of its upcoming Gun and Military Auction. Items of Earp’s include a saddle, vest and single-shot Moore pistol, according to a news release from the auction house.
The items come with a typed and 1929 notarized letter signed by John Flood, Earp’s close friend and unpaid secretary who attested to their authenticity.
Earp, who died at the age of 80, had a long and varied career, including teamster, boxing referee, brothel owner, professional gambler, saloon owner and lawman. He traveled across the West, spending years at a time in Kansas, Arizona and California.
He was part of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone in 1881 alongside his two brothers and their friend
Doc Holliday. On the other side were members of the Cowboys who were responsible for crimes including bank robberies and cattle rustling.
On the afternoon of Oct. 26, 1881, roughly 30 shots were exchanged between the two sides. A couple of the Cowboys suffered fatal wounds while
Earp’s group, excluding him, were hit with shots that were not life-threatening.
When Earp lived in Los Angeles at the end of his life, he dedicated his memoirs to Flood. Earp was nearly broke at the time, so Flood accepted some of his personal items.
“Wyatt Earp is probably the bestknown figure of the American West,” said Randy Donley, the owner of the auction house. “Volumes have been written about him, movies and television shows have been made, and some of the best-selling toys and even children’s lunch boxes have carried his name.”
Donley said Earp’s name is synonymous with the Old West and that the house had been receiving inquiries from private collectors and museums from across the country for the lawman’s items.
The auction house owner said he does not know exactly what to expect for the items at auction.
“I really have no idea, but a documented Earp pistol and shotgun recently brought six figures.”
Donley said that once the items go back into a collection, they won’t be on the market for another 30 to 40 years.
Descriptions of the items were provided by the auction house.
Saddle made by J. Jepsen & Son, Los Angeles: J. Jepsen & Son were harness and saddle makers in Los Angeles in the late 1800s. The saddle has a 14” seat and a brass saloon token is attached to the steel horn. The leather was oiled and is still fairly supple. Earp’s name is carved into the back of the cantle in script.
Vest: A black wool, three-button, four-pocket vest with braided trim. The item has laundry marks inside and heavy sweat stains on the back of the lining. The item is framed under glass.
Pistol: A Moore single-shot derringer-style pistol. In overall good condition with loss to the nickel plating.
John Flood’s letter of authentication: A typed letter signed by Flood describing how he acquired the items. It details each item including a black hat that is no longer part of the group. The letter was notarized by Seth Millington in February 1929, just over one month after Earp’s death.
The auction begins on Sept. 23 and is lot number 1010. Bidding will be live, online and by phone. To view the items and for more information go to DonleyAuctions.com