Albumen photograph on period mount. Image 9.8x6 cm.(4x2¼").

One of the better-known photographs of the legendary western lawman, gambler, saloon keeper and buffalo hunter, sometime marshal of Wichita, Kansas, Dodge City, Kansas and Tombstone, Arizona. The photograph was taken when he was about thirty-three, having just moved to from Dodge City to Tombstone, where, with his brothers James and Earl. He is best known for his part in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral during which three outlaw cowboys were killed. The 30-second gunfight defined the rest of his life. Earp's modern-day reputation is that of the Old West's "toughest and deadliest gunman of his day." Earp moved to San Diego in 1885, purchasing real estate and opening several saloons and gambling halls. In the 1890s he resided in San Francisco, and after a time in the Alaska gold rush moved back to California, primarily living in Los Angeles. During these latter years he did some contract work for the L.A. police department. Though this seems to be from the original negative, there is the possibility that it is an early copy photograph.