A rare boudoir cabinet card of the infamous outlaw Black Bart has sold as one of the top lots in Brian Lebel's Old West Show & Auction, which was held on June 22 in Denver.

Black Bart became a media favourite after leaving poems at the scenes of his crimes

The photograph, which bears an extremely rare photographer's mark, sold for $42,500.

Black Bart was a stagecoach robber who became a media favourite in California during the 1880s for his lack of violence and polite manner when committing his crimes.

He is also noted for his ingenious schemes and for leaving poems at the scene of the crime.

Also selling well was a dagger retrieved from the Battle of Little Bighorn. Selling for $41,000, the handle was made from an oak wagon board by a Native American from the upper Great Lakes and West region.

On June 23 at Heritage Auctions, George Custer's bib shirt topped a collection of his personal memorabilia, including a lock of his hair.

See our collection of historical hair for sale.