AUCTION REPORT
A
fter a tremendously successful first year
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2018,
Brian Lebel returned to the famous
Southwestern town for a repeat act on June
22 and 23 for the Cody Old West Show &
Auction. The two-day show and auction once
again brought top-quality Western and Native
American materials to the Santa Fe Community
Convention Center, in the heart of Santa Fe’s
beautiful Plaza district.
Strong crowds, high sales and engaged
buyers were reported throughout the show,
which brought out more than 150 dealers that
were spread out offering anything from cavalry
rifles and parade saddles to Navajo weavings
and Pueblo pottery, and much more.
In addition to the dealer show was the
live auction event, which featured more than
225 lots of high-quality Western material.The top lot was the Edward H. Bohlin Dick
Dickson Jr. parade saddle. The saddle, made
by Bohlin for John R. Dow of Kansas City,
Missouri, featured long tapaderos, matching
breast collar and bridle, and Bohlin’s
trademark raised buffalo head on the silver
horn. Estimated at $25,000 to $30,000, the
1950s saddle sold for nearly $26,550. “This
particular style of Bohlin parade saddle was
originally designed by and named for movie
theatre executive, rancher and RV regular,
Dick Dickson,” Lebel says. “In the 1930s,
the Dick Dickson, Miss Dickson and Dick
Dickson Jr. became the most popular parade
styles made by the Bohlin company, and
remained so for a quarter of a century.”
Another top lot was a collection of
artifacts from John Wesley Hardin, the famous
Texas gunfighter. The items were an originalgambling chip from the Acme Saloon, where
Hardin was killed in 1895; an authentic nine
of hearts shot card with four bullet holes, with
original Hardin signature; an original Hardin
calling card; and an original chit from the
Wigwam Saloon, signed and dated by Hardin
just three months before he was killed. The
four artifacts sold for $23,600, just under their
$25,000 low estimate.
Other top lots were an Edward Borein
work on paper (est. $10/12,000) that sold for
$18,800, another Bohlin silver saddle (est.
$8/12,000) that sold for $12,980, and a Murray
Bros. custom “dragonfly” buckle with belt (est.
$10/12,000) that sold for $11,210.
The auction realized more than $414,000.
Lebel’s next show, the annual Mesa Old West
Show & Auction, will take place January 25
and 26, 2020, in Mesa, Arizona.Back in the Saddle
Brian Lebel’s Cody Old West Show & Auction makes
a triumphant return to Santa Fe.1 2 34 5 6 7