Breihan, Carl

[Western Americana] [Bat Masterson] [Wyatt Earp] [Buffalo Bill Cody] Archive of Western Author and Historian Carl Breihan

circa 1950s-1980s. [Western Americana] [Bat Masterson] [Wyatt Earp] [Buffalo Bill Cody]

Archive of Western Author and Historian Carl Breihan, circa 1950s-1980s.
About 25 items. Generally very good or better: a bit of scattered spotting and light toning, a touch of edge wear

This is a small archive from the estate of Carl Breihan (1916-1998), noted Western author and historian. Breihan is widely regarded as the top authority on Frank and Jesse James, as well as the Younger Brothers. An avid collector of Western memorabilia, much of his estate was derived directly from Jesse James’ and the Youngers’ families. He is noted for his involvement with the decade-long challenge against J. Frank Dalton’s infamous claim that he was the original Jesse James and has written several works concerning outlaws and lawmen of the Old West. Some of his better-known titles include “The Day Jesse James Was Killed,” “Quantrill and His Civil War Guerrillas,” “Great Gunfighters of the West,” and “Ride the Razor's Edge: The Younger Brothers Story.” Breihan also served as St. Louis, Missouri County Police Commissioner and several terms on the St. Louis County Council.

This collection reveals the storyteller’s collecting compulsion, with original and reproductions of historical photographs, notes, letters, manuscripts and research materials. Items of note include:

- 25 pp. typed manuscript for “Bat Masterson, Lawman” by Breihan, circa early 1970s. The story was published in the Fall 1973 issue of “Real West” magazine. The opening lines reveal the age-old question, and Breihan’s reason for writing: “Who was this lawman, gunfighter, Indian campaigner, Bat Masterson, whose name became synonymous with bold bravery and nerve many years ago, and still symbolizes this art today?” 26 11” x 8 ½” leaves including title, printed rectos only. Just a touch of edge wear, very good plus.

- B&W photographs and clippings of photographic images of several big names and places, not limited to:
- George Hereford, taken while with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at Evanston in 1885. 7” x 5” glossy B&W photo
- “Big Nose Kate,” paramour of Doc Holliday. 5” x 7” glossy B&W photo
- Frank McLowery, gunshot victim of the OK Corral shootout. 4 ½” x 2 ¼” clipping pasted onto a paper backing
- Sheriff Behan, Wyatt Earp’s main rival. 2 ½” x 2” clipping pasted onto a paper backing
- Schieffelin Hall, the “most famous theater” in the West. Part of a 11” x 8” clipping.
- James Earp, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp. 3 ¼” x 6” clipping featuring the men’s images
- “Men Who Made Tombstone History” including Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, Bat Masterson and Neil Brown. Clipping of an image.
- Larry Deger. The caption on the verso identifies the “300 lb. Marshal of Dodge City,” revealing that “Wyatt Earp served as his deputy from May 17 thru Sept. 9, 1876”. 7 ½” x 6” B&W glossy photo
- Sepia-toned photo showing several buildings, 1940s-era cars and a nun talking to a man. Handwritten caption to front reads “Old hospital building where Sr. Melanie labored and served as a nun.” Likely referring to Doc Holliday’s close cousin Mattie, known as Sister Melanie after 1883. 5” x 7” B&W glossy photo, seemingly removed from a photo album, leaving a black paper backing on the photo.

- Original newspaper clipping on Doc Holliday’s tombstone at Glenwood Springs, erected 70 years after his death. 15” x 7 ½” clipping, likely from the Denver Post, 1958

- A copy of Charles Bassett’s Union Army Record with a handwritten note to Carl from “Jack, May ‘75” - “Figured you might like a copy for your files.” 3 pp. 14” x 8 ½” photocopies

-Typed and handwritten letters to Breihan, including:
- 11” x 8 ½” 2 pp. handwritten letter from “Loue H.” of Capitola, California, discussing Luke Short, August 1963
- 11” x 8 ½” TLS from William A. Platt, “Department of Public Interest” on letterhead of the Community Service Society of New York, January 1950. Platt wrote, “It may be some time before Broncho Charlie Miller will be able to reply personally to your very nice letter … your good wishes were conveyed to him. He wanted me to be sure to express his personal gratitude to you.” Broncho Charlie, at age 11, was the youngest rider of the Pony Express and was later part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

- Two sheets of 9” x 6” note paper with handwritten transcriptions of newspaper articles from the “Daily Nugget” of August and November 1880, concerning Wyatt Earp. The text included: “A Trick That Was In Vain - … Earp intended to take Roger King into Tucson for lodgment in jail …” and “Deputy Sheriff Wyatt Earp yesterday arrested an old offender named Mike Langdon - Alias Red Mike…”

- 19 pp. typed manuscript for “Dutch Henry Born - Frontier Legend” by Wayne T. Walker, a noted writer of Western magazine stories

- Three typed manuscripts for works by Raymond W. Thorp, another Western author, with original mailing envelope addressed to Breihan from Thorp in February 1965. These include:
- 12 pp. manuscript for “The Man Who Held All Shooting Championships,” a story about William Frank "Doc" Carver, world champion marksman and originator (with Buffalo Bill Cody) of the Wild West Show. “Gun World” handwritten to top of first page; likely the magazine it was intended for and/or published in.
- 12 pp. manuscript for “He Made Winchester A Household Word” and 6 pp. manuscript for “Battle of the Shooting Giants,” both also about Carver, both also with handwritten notations to first page, likely abbreviations for magazine titles.

Rare and compelling images and research materials belonging to a noted Old West author and expert. OCLC locates published versions of Breihan’s works, and two of his manuscripts at the University of Wyoming, though not the one on offer here, and no holdings of the other present manuscripts. Item #1383

Price: $350.00