Description:

JOSEPHINE "JOSEY" EARP
(ca. 1861 - 1944) American actress and professional dancer, best known as the wife of Western lawman and gambler Wyatt Earp. Josie's first romance in Tombstone was with Wyatt's arch enemy, Sheriff Johnny Behan, whom she left when she discovered his philandering ways. By 1882, she had adopted the name of "Josephine Earp", although no official record of their marriage exists, and she was on the scene following the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Although their marriage was contentious, they shared a life of mining, operating saloons, and even worked as a gambling team. Good content A.L.S. "Earps" with envelope signed by her "W. S. Earp", 5pp. 8vo., Vidal, Ca., Nov. 9, 1925 to the Earp's business secretary and friend, John Flood. She opens her letter mentioning her disappointment and not learning the output of an oil well on their property, then moves on to her favorite subject, her husband's planned biography and film rights. In part: "...when we get the story also picture we will be ready to settle down. We had a very fine letter from Bill [actor and friend William S. Hart] and he is very anxious to get the story and...to be very careful in whose hands we let the story fall...he also said it must be published first in some good magazine, then in book form...made mention that we would make a big piece of money...Bill's help will go a long ways. So hurry up like a good little boy and finish it up...make is a smooth running story and very historical...don't forget to put in all you can in the Dodge City part...also where...Wyatt was at the head of the mounted police where he saved the girl and her mother in the [?] fire by carrying the mother from the hotel where she was sick in bed...Wyatt took her [the daughter] out of the hotel by force...Also tell how he worked for old man Banning in early days...cut out you know what as we want a good clean story...Have you got where his father and three brothers all fought in the war [she names them]...Wyatt wanted to go but was too young. And where Wyatt took the pay car during the big strike with the Southern Pacific to El Paso and paid off all the men...and where he worked for Wells Fargo...and when he went to Alaska...they were not giving the passengers enough to eat and they were going to throw the captain overboard so Wyatt told them he would advance them money [for provisions]...". Very good condition.

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December 16, 2010 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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