Description:

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" 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. Fine content A.L.S. "Mrs. Earp" and "Earp" with holograph envelope signed"W. Earp", 4pp. (2pp. 4to., 2pp. 8vo.), Vidal, Ca., Apr. 6, 1927 to the Earps' private secretary, confidante and Wyatt Earp's biographer, John H. Flood. Josie writes concerning an unauthorized biography of Earp titled Tombstone, An Iliad of the Southwest by Walter Burns and soon to be published by Doubleday. Her husband Wyatt had given Burns a great deal of personal information, not knowing that Burns would use it to publish the biography from which the Earps would not earn a penny. Much excellent content, with mention of the famous gunfight before the O.K. Corral, in part: "...We had a letter from Burns today...guess he does not want to do anything and wants it all himself. He said that in the story of Doc [Holliday], that he made Mr. E. the hero of Tombstone...[He wrote] you will regard the book as a fine indication of your [Wyatt's] fame...He also said he could find no one in Tombstone who could tell the correct story of the fight...I am so worked up over it all...it looks to me now that has written the story of Mr. E. over Doc's head. And I am going to stop it if such is the case...He is not going to get away so easy...Mr. E. not so well...". Josie then prompts Flood on how to set-up Burns and defend Wyatt's rights to his biography: "...These things are what to say Mr. [E.] wrote to you...I [Wyatt] am going to have my life story written over...'I hope Mr. Burns your story of Doc will not interfere with my life story. I can't understand why I am to be the hero, when the story is all about Doc Holiday...When I act - I will do it right...I am still living'...". With a carbon copy of Flood's response, a T.L., 2pp. 4to., Los Angeles, Apr. 9, 1927. Flood advises Josie that once Burns' biography is published, there would be little use in Flood, or anyone else, publishing another. He asks Josie to forward the text of Burns' letter to the Earps so that an injunction might be sought, and advises the couple to be prepared for a tough battle. Fine condition.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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