A half plate daguerreotype dating to 1864 was the highest selling lot at Heritage Auction's September 21 Legends of the West sale. The rare photograph, which shows two Texas Rangers disguised as Vaqueros, sold for $59,750.
The Texas Rangers were formed in 1823 as a law enforcement agency, one of the oldest such institutions in the US.
They were key players in some of the most important criminal events in the history of the old West, such as the cases of Bonnie and Clyde and bank robber Sam Bass. Many also fought in the Mexican American war of 1846-1848.
 The daguerreotype shows two Rangers disguised as Vaqueros |
The daguerreotype is the only known example that shows a Colt Walker - the iconic pistol designed by Samuel Colt and Samuel H Walker for use in the war.
Two group portraits featuring Captain John R Hughes and Company D of the Texas Rangers sold for $20,135 in a single lot.
Following the killing of Company D commander Captain Frank Jones at the hands of Mexican bandits in June 1893, Sergeant John R Hughes was chosen as his replacement and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
The photograph was taken shortly after the capture of one such bandit in 1894. It shows Captain Hughes and company seated next to the shackled prisoner.
 Captain John R Hughes and Company D with a shackled prisoner |
A daguerreotype of heavily armed Ranger Frank Schmidt standing next to a horse also performed well - making $14,937. Schmidt served with Company D for seven years before his death from a gunshot wound in 1893.
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