This is nicely framed memorabilia that William B. "Bat" Masterson signed and a photo of the legendary lawman. The documents are all mounted on a 32 1/2 inch by 28 inch wooden frame with a pebble grain leather background. The frame itself in 2 3/4 inches wide. There is a separate 12 3/4 inch by 181/2 inch frame mounted to the leather backing on hinges which contains a mortgage indenture dated April 10, 1880 from Ford County, Kansas signed by Bat Masterson, a blank receipt and a standard Mortgage document dated April 17, 1880. Masterson signed the documents for a friend, R.M. Wright. There is also a 7 x 5 plaque and a 4 3/4 inch by 2 3/4 inch photo of Masterson mounted in the frame. The plaque gives a brief history of the life of Masterson. Wright was one of Masterson's closest friends in Dodge City and one of the towns original settlers. Wright also later served as Dodge City Mayor. Masterson's friend Wyatt Earp moved from Wichita to Dodge City to become Masterson's Assistant Marshall, (Masterson had become a U.S. Marshall in 1878). Masterson's reputation was so impressive with a gun that he was called the "Lawman filling up Boot Hill" when in actuality he only fired his gun during one arrest. Masterson preferred to use strategy and the element of surprise and his "reputation" to capture outlaws. Masterson spent the 1880s traveling the frontier, gambling and promoting boxing matches. In 1902 be retired from law enforcement, moved to New York and became a sports writer for the New York Morning Telegraph. Its there that he died of a heart attack at his desk on October 25, 1921. There is a "Gallery of History" label and a University Archives letter attached to the back.

Excellent. There is a small amount of bubbling in the leather backing, and there is some minor edge wear and dings on the frame. The documents are very good with some mild yellowing and the photo is excellent.