Selling the Mythic West and the Real West

Parade saddles, illustrations and movie memorabilia were sold at auction.

- STEVE FRIESEN

This Edward Bohlin parade saddle, heavily decorated with gold and silver, was a featured item at the Old West Auction. Made for Louise Rechner Cottam of Santa Barbara in the 1930s, it bears a cowboy on a bucking horse carved into the fenders.

It’s been a little over a year since Morphy Auctions and Brian Lebel’s Old West Events merged. The quality and variety of items offered from the real and the mythical West at their January Old West Auction in Las Vegas demonstrate that they are still a premiere source for collectors.

Iron Tail was one of Buffalo Bill's closest friends and a Lakota performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. While he was also photographed numerous times, pictured on other posters, and was even a model for the Indian head nickel, this is one of the most striking images of him.

First owned by well-known actor "Crash" Corrigan, this Bohlin saddle was later acquired by Charles Starrett, who acted in a record 131 Westerns as "The Durango Kid!""