The gun Wyatt Earp used to kill Bill “Curly” Brocius soared to $375,000 to claim top-lot honors in Heritage Auctions’ Americana & Political Auction, which was held Feb. 22 and 23 in Dallas, Texas. The prized relic helped boost the total gross to $2,355,133.
Used by lawman Earp to avenge his brother’s death, the amazingly documented 10-gauge shotgun used by him to kill Brocius drew bids from more than two dozen collectors and nearly quadrupled its pre-auction estimate of $100,000. Upon learning that his brother had been killed, Earp formed a posse to exact a measure of justice.
"When they went out to hunt for Brocius, Earp borrowed a 10-gauge shotgun, this shotgun, from his friend, Fred Dodge,” stated Heritage Auctions Americana Director Tom Slater. “They found Curly Bill at Iron Springs on March 24, 1882, and in the ensuing shootout, Earp used this shotgun to kill Curly Bill, after which, he returned it to Fred Dodge.”
“The winning bidder has acquired a historically important relic tied to a figure in American history about whom stories have been told for generations,” continued Slater.
Also more than doubling its estimate was the Henry Clay large and important 1844 Native American parade flag, which found a new home when it reached $93,750. Bearing the words “BEWARE OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE” across two of the stripes, the flag features a canton with an eagle, shield, draped flags, 26 stars and a ballot box captioned “Twenty-One Years,” a reference to a proposal that immigrants needed to reside in the U.S. for 21 years before they would be eligible to become naturalized citizens.
A fresh-to-market James Buchanan South Carolina portrait flag, with 13 stars arranged in the "Betsy Ross" pattern with a larger, central star in the middle, brought $75,000. It is inscribed “Buchanan & Breckinridge,” followed by “For President,” above a woodcut portrait of Buchanan followed on a lower stripe, “South Carolina.”
More than a dozen bidders went after a Theodore Roosevelt personally-owned top hat until it finished at $50,000, more than double its pre-auction estimate. The 26th U.S. president, Roosevelt was an elegant dresser who was photographed many times wearing a top hat. Still housed in its original deluxe, silk-lined, leather carrying case, the hat was accompanied by a letter of authenticity from High Noon Western Americana, which has handled many historical and celebrity-owned vintage hats and is often called upon to vet such material.
A George Washington, William Birch enamel-on-copper miniature dated 1796 drew $41,250. Birch was a celebrated English painter and enamellist who exhibited his work at the Royal Academy and Society of Artists. He introduced enamel painting to America, for which he earned wide acclaim and multiple commissions. He made about 60 miniatures of Washington, this one particularly appealing because of its excellent condition and the fact that the signature and date coincide with Washington’s last year as president.
Multiple bidders pursued Chief Joseph Brant's personal tomahawk until it finished at $40,000. A historically important figure, Brant raised and led a force during the American Revolution called “Brant’s Volunteers” of Mohawk and American Tory troops who waged war on the settlers along the western frontier of New York. This pipe tomahawk once owned by the leader sometimes referred to as “Monster Brant” is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable historical artifacts ever presented by Heritage.
An ash tray from John F. Kennedy’s oval office desk realized $32,500, and a rare Theodore Roosevelt Pro-TR equality pin sold for $25,000. An exceptional “eagle with glory” George Washinton inaugural button brought $23,750, and Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s campaign hat sold for $20,000.
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