#225 • Edgar Samuel Paxson's Stetson Hat

Part of The Ray Howser Firearms Collection, 1931-2026 (timed auction by Lewis & Grant Auctions)

Starting at $500.00

Status: Available

Live bidding starts Nov 20, 2026 10:00 AM EST

A remarkable piece of American Western history is the personal John B. Stetson Company 3X Beaver fur hat owned and worn by the revered frontier painter and muralist, Edgar Samuel Paxson. Celebrated for his meticulous historical accuracy in masterworks like "Custer's Last Battle on the Little Big Horn" and his grand murals in the Montana State Capitol, Paxson lived the very frontier life he immortalized. This classic piece of Western wear bridges the gap between the man and his legendary art. The interior leather sweatband liner clearly bears the stamped gold crest of the "John B. Stetson Company 3X Beaver ". This lot boasts ironclad provenance, accompanied by an intimate, handwritten letter from William Paxson (Edgar Paxson's grandson). The letter warmly details how highly his parents thought of Ray and Maxine Howser, expressing his joy in gifting them this cherished family heirloom as a permanent memento. An incredibly rare opportunity to acquire a personal artifact from one of the foundational pillars of Western American Art included with photographs of ESP wearing this special artifact.