Buyer Beware: Scrutinizing Historical Tintypes of Wild West Legends
The Wild West era, characterized by its larger-than-life heroes and villains, continues to capture the imagination of historians, collectors, and enthusiasts. Images of iconic figures such as Wild Bill Hickok and Texas Jack Omohundro are particularly coveted, often fetching high prices at auctions. However, the allure of these rare artifacts also presents a significant risk of misidentification and misrepresentation. One such case is a tintype currently up for auction, purportedly featuring Texas Jack Junior and Wild Bill Hickok.
Questioning the Authenticity
The auction description for this tintype states, "The individual on the left is Texas Jack Jr., son of Texas Jack Omohundro. The individual on the right appears to be Wild Bill Hickok." However, a close examination of the provided images raises doubts about this claim.
Texas Jack Junior: The individual on the left in the tintype does not resemble known images of Texas Jack Junior. Historical photographs of Texas Jack Junior (see attached image) show distinct facial features and a youthful appearance that do not match the man in the tintype.
Wild Bill Hickok: Similarly, the individual on the right does not closely resemble authenticated images of Wild Bill Hickok. Hickok's well-documented appearance (see attached image) features distinctive facial hair and an unmistakable visage that does not align with the person in the tintype.
Historical Inconsistencies
The timeline further complicates the authenticity of the tintype. Texas Jack Junior claimed to have been rescued as a young child by Texas Jack Omohundro in 1868. This means Junior would have been between 8 and 12 years old when Wild Bill toured with Texas Jack Omohundro and his co-star Buffalo Bill Cody in 1873-1874. The young age of Texas Jack Junior at that time makes it highly improbable that he could be the adult depicted in the tintype. Further, there is no documented proof that Texas Jack Omohundro and Texas Jack Junior had any contact after the reported rescue that happened while Omohundro was an open-range cowboy between 1866 and 1869.
The Business of "Newly Discovered" Images
The market for "newly discovered" images of Wild West heroes and villains is a lucrative one. A tintype of Billy the Kid sold for $2.3 million in 2011, and newer, unauthenticated photos purportedly of the Kid have been appraised for as much as $5 million. This high-stakes market creates a vested interest for some appraisers and sellers, making provenance and rigorous authentication crucial.
Importance of Provenance
Provenance, the documented history of an artifact, is essential in verifying the authenticity of historical photographs. Provenance tells us who owned an image, tracing its ownership history through the years. For example, the famous image of Texas Jack Omohundro, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Wild Bill Hickok is known to be authentic because it remained in the collection of Buffalo Bill Cody until his death in 1917. Without clear and verifiable provenance, the risk of misidentification is high.
Collectors should be cautious and seek expert opinions before making significant investments in such artifacts. Provenance provides the necessary context and history to ensure that a photograph is what it claims to be. Without it, the authenticity of the image is in question, and the potential for misrepresentation is significant.
Expert Opinion
As a historian and an expert on Texas Jack Omohundro, Texas Jack Junior, and early stage westerns, I can confidently say that the individuals in this tintype are not Texas Jack Junior and Wild Bill Hickok. While I am not an official authenticator, my expertise leads me to this conclusion based on visual comparison and historical context.
In conclusion, collectors should exercise caution and due diligence when considering the purchase of historical photographs. The allure of owning a piece of Wild West history should be balanced with a critical assessment of the artifact's authenticity.