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...

ANNIE OAKLEY Check signed with her married name, Annie Butler, filled out by her to her grand-daughter (by adoption), with an additional note in Annie's hand on verso. Check signed: "Annie Butler", 6½x2¾. Newark, New Jersey, 1923 June 15. Check #135, drawn on the Newark & Essex Banking Co. payable to Elizabeth Hall for $50. Endorsed ""Elizabeth Hall". Handwritten note in Oakley's hand on verso: "Board to F. E. Butlers Grand Daughter. 22 Weikel Ave. Merchantville, N. J. Known as Niece". Annie Oakley (1860-1926, born Phoebe Anne Moses in Darke County, Ohio), was born to a Quaker family and began to shoot rabbits and quail at age nine. Within five years, she was a breadwinner for her family as a markswoman, and, at age 15, she saved her family's farm with income she had earned from shooting game. On August 23, 1876, at age 16, Annie married Frank Butler, a vaudeville performer who became her partner. Annie's self-effacing personality (on and off stage) made her a popular performer. In 1885, the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, where Annie was a star for 17 years. read more...

FRANK JAMES From Gallatin, Missouri, while awaiting trial for murder and armed robbery, James handwrote this remarkable and very affectionate 20-page letter to his wife, even quoting Shakespeare. This rich content letter includes references to some of James' friends and former partners Ebenezer Magoffin, and Bill and Frank Gregg. Curiously, James signs with the alias he used as an outlaw, "Ben". Autograph Letter signed: "Your true husband/Ben", 20 pages, 5x8. Castle St James [Gallatin, Missouri], July, circa 1883. A loving letter from Frank James to his wife, on his affection for her and recent happenings. In full: "My dear wife: Do you know your letter of last Sunday was the most interesting communication I have had from you since you left me. I think you are awakening to the fact that I love you much more than a "little bit" as you express it. Let me whisper to you right now that I feel a hundred times better since you have written as you have. How kind and good you can be when you want to. I have felt very much like spanking you several times of late, when you would say for instance "I sometimes believe you do love me a little bit". read more...

WESTERN ARTISTS AND WRITERS: OLAF WIEGHORST, EARL EDER, JOE BOEHLER, STAN LYNDE, J. K. RALSTON and MANY OTHERS 34x35½ buckskin, signed by an impressive collection of Western artists in the 1970s, triple matted and custom framed for display. Some of the artists have added drawings in a Native American theme. Many signers have strong connections with the State of Montana and the Blackfoot Nation. Original Art signed: Buckskin bearing nearly 100 signatures. An unknown artist has drawn a large teepee in the center of the buckskin. Many of the signers have embellished their autograph with Western-themed drawings (teepees, horse heads, cattle brands, etc.). Some have dated their signatures, with the range of dates extending from 1970 to 1977. Many of the signers have a close connection with the state of Montana. The signers include the following: OLAF WIEGHORST (1899-1988), born in Jutland, Denmark, is best known for his poignant portrayals of the American West. Wieghorst's paintings have sold for more than $450,000. and his signed Lithographs for up to $12,000. His most famous work, Native Madonna, was published as a lithograph in 1972. Sioux painter and sculptor EARL EDER (b. 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...

PAT GARRETT Letter to his wife about their old ranch in Roswell, New Mexico; with envelope incorporating a second signature. ALS: "P.F. Garrett", 3p, 6x8½. Roswell, N.M., 1893 July 16. To his wife. In full: "This is Sunday evening. I got here Thursday and find this country dryer than I ever saw it. Everything looks bad. The cattle are dieing (sic) and everything has a desolate appearance. I went out to our old place this morning. It looks about as it did when we left except the cotton-woods have grown considerable, the grape vine (sic) are loaded with grapes and look well but the Peach trees look bad several have died. I find the Horses in bad shape. Garvey has sold and stole them so that there are not a great many left. I will begin to gather them tomorrow and am going to sell for some price. I intend to close out all we have here. So I will never have to come to this country again. I cant tell yet when I will get home. Write me at once and let me know how you all are getting along. If you had come with me this trip you would never want to see this country again. Mr. Coburn died yesterday and was buried this morning. read more...

"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...

EMMETT DALTON The only surviving Dalton Gang member signs this letter regarding his new book and wanting to hang a photo relating to the James Boys in his den, dated 1931 Typed letter signed: "Emmett Dalton", 1p, 8x10. No place, June 19, 1931 . To Marx Reimers, St. Paul, Minnesota. In full: "Thank you very kindly for your letter of June nineteenth, with enclosures. I am sending you an autographed photograph of myself, taken about ten years ago. The story 'West of 96' is published by Doubleday, Doran and Company, Garden City, New York, and is on sale at most all the large book stores and many department stores also. It is published under the title of 'When the Daltons Rode' and is about 80,000 words, illustrated, and much more complete than 'West of 96' which is about half that length. I would be pleased to receive a photo of the arch from which you say the James Boys started, for my private 'Den'. With Kindest regards." Emmett Dalton (1871-1937) and his three brothers led a murderous gang of train robbers, who used a network of informers and hideouts to evade a widespread manhunt. He was the only member of the Dalton Brothers' Gang to survive the 1892 attempt to rob two banks simultaneously in Coffeyville, Kansas. read more...

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP Handwritten letter to friend and would-be biographer John Flood, only months after Wyatt Earp's death. "I am still worrying for my dear husband. I miss him so much." Autograph Letter signed: "Josephine Earp", 3 pages, 6x8 folded, otherwise 12x8. Oakland (California), 1929 September 25. To "Dear Mr. Flood", in full: "I did not mean to be slow to respond to your nice letter. I wanted to wait and see if I could be in Los Angeles in the next ten days but it seems now like I will not be able to get away until about the fifth, or six I did not mean to be slow to respond to your nice letter. I wanted to wait and see if I could be in Los Angeles in the next ten days but it seems now like I will not be able to get away until about the fifth, or six of Oct. and I know you cannot wait until then. I thank you very much for offering to wait a few days until I could get there. I will see you when I come to Vidal. I have many things that I must attend to before I go to the desert. I hope you are right to the gross or net but different attorneys have told me that you are wrong - we will have to wait and see. That is all that can be done. read more...