768

Three Custer Battlefield Photographs, One Autographed by Cus

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Three Custer Battlefield Photographs, One Autographed by Cus

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
lot includes the following unique silver gelatin photographs, ca early 1890s: one of the earliest known images of Custer's wooden cross that captures the cross facing uphill, and to the right of the monument, opposed to later published views that look downhill showing the valley and river, dedicated, signed, and dated on verso by William Billy Jackson, Custer's Scout, September 10, 1892, 4" x 6", matted on cardstock, 4.25" x 6.5"; an unpublished photo of Lt. J.J. Crittenden's grave at Custer Cemetery, as indicated by the penciled inscription on recto, featuring cavalry officers with their gear, 3.25" x 4", matted on cardstock, 3.75" x 5"; and an unpublished image of Colonel Miles Keogh's cross marker at Custer Cemetery, as indicated by the penciled inscription on recto, with cavalry officers lounging, note early rail fence in distance, 3.5" x 4.5", matted on cardstock, 4" x 5.25".

According to the consignor, the Crittenden and Keogh grave photographs were originally part of a collage of items that came from the collection of Sergeant William Capes who served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment, Company M in 1876. This company was a part of the garrison at Fort Rice, Dakota, until they marched to Fort Lincoln on May 5 and joined the regiment to take part in the Sioux expedition. The regiment then left Fort Lincoln on May 17 and Company M was part of a scouting party that Lieutenant Colonel George Custer took up the Little Missouri for 22 miles and returned on May 30. Company M did participate in the Little Big Horn River fight, and 12 from the company were killed, 2 died as a result of wounds, and 12 were wounded during this battle. Capes was on detached service from June 15, 1876, at Yellowstone Depot, Montana Territory, and he did not join the company until July 30, 1876. Thus, he did not participate at Little Big Horn (Hammer, 1972: 243-246). 

Condition: Toning to images; scattered soiling; moderate edgewear to mounts; lower left corner of the third image mount is bent and taped.