"BUFFALO BILL" CODY Handwritten letter to former rival - now partner - Pawnee Bill Lillie -  outlining plans for a California tour of their wild west show. "And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." Autograph Letter signed: "Col.", 1 page, 8½x11. Saco, Maine, May 30 (circa 1908). On letterhead of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East to "Dear Major" [William Lillie]. In full: "The reason I would not sign up with Craft. They went back on the Contract they had Bacon draw and sent two of their own fixing. You see by the route of Sells Floto that they are playing all of the Country west of the Rockies and North West. And I think we should do it. I think the summer of the Great Panama Fair at San Francisco we could show all that Country. In the Spring three shows. San Francisco July, Aug. Sep. Then Southern Cal. Oct. And if all goes well we could clean up a wagon load of money." William Frederick Cody (1846-1917) earned the name "Buffalo Bill" for killing thousands of buffalo as a hired hunter in 1867 and 1868. read more...

PAT GARRETT While traveling New Orleans in hopes of escaping his tainted reputation as the infamous killer of Billy the Kid, a somber Pat Garrett writes to his wife, "I am so lonesome and blue I wish I had not let you leave me." An Extremely Rare and emotional piece! Autograph Letter Signed: "P. H. Garrett," 3 pages, 5x8. New Orleans, Louisiana. March 11, 1894. To his wife, in full: "I got your letter yesterday with the one from Richard enclosed. The letter from him was about a piece of land I bought from Bill Halloman and don't amount to anything. I went to see Maricio this evening (Sunday) he is doing fine but is very weak is wandering all around the hospital, but the doctor say he had better stay there for a few days, it is so mucky and wet at the track he might get sick again. It has been raining every day since you left here until today we have had a beautiful spring day warm like summer I think the race track will get good now and then I can win a race you may look for Billy home in a few days I have no money to send you wife and am very sorry but can't help. Have Milas to sell the black mare Sis if he can't get more than $50. read more...

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP Very content-rich ALS to the man writing the manuscript of Wyatt Earp's autobiography, and mentioning help they are getting from Western actor William S. Hart. While urging author Flood to keep the story clean and to finish it soon, she reminds him of several more events in Wyatt's life he must include. Autograph Letter signed: "Your friends/Earps", 3 pages (12x8 integral leaf and 8x6 unattached page). Vidal, California, 1925 November 9. To John H. Flood, Jr., Los Angeles. In full: "Your letter came Monday. And I was glad to hear from you also good news. Although I am sure disappointed. And yet I still feel grateful to have them find the oil. I was in hope they would bring in a two or three hundred barrel well. But - as I said I must be satisfied as it could have been a bust too. I have been watching the oil news very closely but saw no account of it. I hope it will not be a mistake. Now when we get the story also picture we will then be ready to settle down. We had a very fine letter from Bill [friend and actor William S. Hart] and he is very anxious to read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY This wonderful note from the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, North Carolina was signed "Congratulations" by Oakley and includes a 1919 penny shot by her during one of performances - proof that Oakley really was that good. Items signed by Oakley are extremely rare, and the targets that she used in her performances are even more so, making this combination an extraordinary find by any measure. Autograph sentiment signed "Congratulations/Annie Oakley". 5x6¼, on stationery from the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, North Carolina with colored cachet near top edge, 1 sheet folded. This note has a 1919 Lincoln head penny tied to it with twine. What makes this penny extraordinary is that it's been bent by a small-caliber bullet impact on its left edge. The crater still has a trace of lead and is consistent with that caused by a .22 bullet, the caliber that Oakley used in her performances. The note itself is also significant, as Oakley was hired by the Carolina Hotel (now the Pinehurst Resort, in Pinehurst, North Carolina) to teach and demonstrate shooting in the mid-1910s. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Recovering slowly from an auto accident late in her life, she writes a 4-page letter to a female journalist, enthusiastically describing her move to North Carolina. Autograph Letter signed: "Annie Oakley Butler", 4 pages (integral leaf), 5½x6¾. Greensboro, North Carolina, October 10 (Pencil note in unknown hand dates it 1923.) Oakley has struck through the original letterhead of the O'Henry and written her new address in Greensboro. To "Dear Miss Tildesley", in full: "I was pleased to see the sweet letter. We left Cambridge just two weeks ago. And stopped off in Balto. to see Dr. Baer. He said there was an improvement in my foot though it had been very slow. But for me to fight on and he was sure I would win out in time. So we both feel incouraged. I can walk much better than when you seen me. We have just left the Hotel and taken A suite here. We have A pretty living room, furnished in wicker with pretty colors. A wicker table with plate glass top so we can make coffee. Tea. Toast. and even boil eggs if we like. A french door opens on A private varanda with pretty flowers. It faces the East. read more...

JAMES J. DOLAN and LAWRENCE G. MURPHY Signed by the leaders of the Murphy-Dolan faction in the Lincoln County War. Promissory Note Signed: "Jas. J. Dolan", 1p, 8x3¼. Santa Fe, N.M., 1874 April 1. In full: "Six months after date, (without grace,) I Promise to Pay to the Order of The First National Bank of Santa Fe, at the office of said Bank in Santa Fe, ten Thousand Dollars, with interest at the rate of eighteen per cent, per annum from date until paid. Value received." Endorsed on verso: "Lawce G. Murphy & Co." beneath, in manuscript: "For value received we guarrantee (sic) the payment of the within note." Interest computation also penned on verso. In his teens, the Irish-born JAMES J. DOLAN (1848-1898) had served in the U.S. Army in the Civil War. After the war, he accepted a position as clerk for merchant LAWRENCE G. MURPHY (1831-1878) and within three years was taken in as a partner in a store at Lincoln, New Mexico. Billy the Kid had arrived in Lincoln while the gang known as "The House" or the read more...

WILLIAM BARCLAY "BAT" MASTERSON This extraordinary document is a typed manuscript for Dodge City, The Cowboy Capital about Western lawman Bat Masterson, with a total of four handwritten corrections by him, including his very rare full signature. It was written by Robert M. Wright, former mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, and sent to Masterson, a former deputy in Dodge City, for his review. Annotated typed manuscript signed "William Barclay (Bat) Masterson". Black ink and lead pencil notations in unknown hand. 6 pages, 8½x11, bound with a needle at top edge. There are a total of four corrections on the first page. The first is Masterson's signature, correcting the title "W.B. Masterson (Bat)". He also corrected the initials "W.B." in the first sentence with "William Barclay". The other two corrections pertain to his candidacy for sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, which included Dodge City. He crossed out the "6" in "1876" and corrected it with "7". read more...

COLE YOUNGER Writing from prison in Stillwater, Minnesota, the outlaw thanks a state senator for a speech advocating his release. Autograph Letter signed twice: "Cole Younger", 2 pages, 7½x12¼. Stillwater, Minnesota, 1899 March 26. Signed on both pages. To "Hon. M. G. Daly, Senate Chambers, St Paul, Minnesota". In full (spelling errors in original): "Mrs. McNeil, Mrs. Greene and Hon. G. H. Schurmer was here to day. Wish I could repeat all they said in regard to the speech you made in the Senate in favor of the Wilson Bill. I had read what little the papers give and felt very grateful. But if posable I would feel still more after hearing them speak so highly. They were wishing I could have herd you. I told them I would feel very happy as it was if you could only here them praising you. They said everone said it was one of the best speeches made in the Senate during the session. Let me assure you there will never be any act of ours in or out of prison that will caus you to regret having extended a helping hand to us in this our hour of distress and our heart felt gratitude is yours in read more...

PAT GARRETT "The man who killed Billy the Kid" endorses a candidate running for governor of the New Mexico Territory. Extremely rare and highly desirable! Typed Letter Signed: "P. H. Garrett/The man who killed Billy the Kid," 1 page, 8½x11. Santa Fe, New Mexico April 1st, 1897. Typed on the letterhead of W.T. Horton, Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, Executive Department. To Hon. George H. Wallace, in full: "If the enclosed letter is of any service to you please accept the same with my best wishes that you may be speedily appointed. I know whereof I speak when I say that New Mexico will continue to need as her chief executive a man who will uphold the law and discharge his duty without fear or favor, and I believe I make no mistake in in giving you my qualified indorsement. Very truly yours." Garrett (1850-1908) is best known for killing the outlaw Billy the Kid. Garrett was elected sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico in 1880. As Sheriff, he captured his onetime friend Billy the Kid, who had been accused of murder. The Kid killed two guards and escaped from jail just before he was to be hanged. read more...