This page will contain scanned images from our collection of various ephemera related to Tombstone, Arizona, past and present. It is our purpose to share as much of our collection as possible with those that are truly interested.
You will notice the items on display have dark lines through them or a red logo. This is from a clear Mylar transparency that we lay the document on before scanning it. We do this to stop unauthorized copying of the items.
Our goal is to promote and educate people on the magnificent history of the American West. Step back in history and enjoy these rare and scarce images from early Tombstone and southeast Arizona!
Pictured is a rare Tombstone broadside advertising
poster from, we believe, 1927. The Tombstone Rodeo was
open to all cowboys! One wonders how many of these
still exist? © Kevin Mulkins, 2012
Pictured is a exceptionally rare Tombstone, A.T.
telephone directory from 1902. It consists of four
unnumbered pages with local business advertisements on
the inside covers. In 1902, there were 98 listings in
this phone directory and most were businesses,
government offices, and some well-to-do individuals.
The cover has a real photograph of the Schieffelin
Monument, taken by W.R. Humphries, Mining Photographer,
Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee. © Kevin Mulkins, 2012
A recent ephemeral acquisition is this little pamphlet
of only twenty-three pages. It was self published and
privately printed between 1935 and 1937 by Captain S.
E. Darby. The pamphlet is extremely rare with this
being only the second one known to exist. It is a
Tombstone promotional item touting the old mining camp
as "the new" health resort of the Southwest. The
author's statements about early Tombstone history are
amusing! ©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
Ephemeral items such as this one are interesting and sometimes rare. Their very nature was to be read and eventually discarded unless specifically saved and preserved. This colorful brochure dates to around 1914 and promotes all the major towns in Cochise County. Its purpose was to encourage people from back east to immigrate and work in Cochise County, Arizona. ©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
Another ephemeral item touting the virtues of living
and working in Cochise County, Arizona. Many times the
information in these little booklets was more
propaganda in nature than factual! This little booklet
dates to 1907. ©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
This rare ephemeral pamphlet is one of the better ones.
It was produced in 1910 by Frank D. Myers, Immigration
Commissioner of Cochise County. It has four fold-out
maps, many illustrations, wonderful descriptive text,
and it paints a pretty picture of Tombstone and Cochise
County in 1910. The reality was many of its citizens
were struggling during poor economic conditions.
©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
This ephemeral brochure the Tombstone Town
Tattler was published by the Tombstone Chamber of
Commerce and the City Council in 1929 or 1930. Fully
illustrated, it was a favorite hand out to tourists and
to those who would take them back home with them and
give to their friends. Of course it promotes
Tombstone's violent past, Helldorado and tourism.
©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
Some ephemeral items are extremely collectible and
rare. This little booklet produced in 1946 by Sarah
Grace Bakarich titled Empty Saddles, A New Version
of the Earp-Clanton Fight is one of them! A
Clanton supporter and Earp detractor, the author leaves
no doubt where her alliances were. She produced a rare
and very collectible piece of Tombstone ephemera which
is coveted by Tombstone and book collectors alike.
©Kevin Mulkins, 2012
Contact us with any questions at: kevbevmulkins@msn.com or call us at 520-603-9325.
We hope you enjoyed your visit here -- please return soon.