Bat Masterson’s pocket watch sells for over $15,000 to Kansas collector
A pocket watch once belonging to legendary lawman William “Bat” Masterson is returning home to Kansas after being auctioned off at RR Auction in Boston.
The watch was purchased for $15,893, said Robert Livingston, executive vice president of the auction house.
The collector wishes to remain anonymous other than to say that the watch has returned home to Kansas, Livingston said.
“They understood the historical significance of Bat Masterson’s watch, and they really love the history of Dodge City, and they’re happy to have them,” Livingston said.
The citizens of Dodge City presented Masterson with the Elgin pocket watch during a Fourth of July celebration in 1885, when he was voted the “most popular man in Dodge City.” The watch was inscribed “To W.B. ‘Bat’ Masterson from the Citizens of Ford Co.”
Other items involving Masterson that were auctioned off Wednesday included three documents related to a lawsuit brought against the lawman in 1879. They sold to the same collector for $3,368, Livingston said.
Morgan Bell: mbell@wichitaeagle.com
This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Bat Masterson’s pocket watch sells for over $15,000 to Kansas collector."