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UNPUBLISHED TINTYPE OF GEORGE A. CUSTER, FOUR FRIENDS AND A DOG

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Other Start Price:6,250.00 USD Estimated At:12,500.00 - 17,500.00 USD
UNPUBLISHED TINTYPE OF GEORGE A. CUSTER, FOUR FRIENDS AND A DOG
UNPUBLISHED TINTYPE OF GEORGE A. CUSTER, FOUR FRIENDS AND A DOG. Small tintype, 3-1/4" x 2-5/16" vertical image of the five men and a black and white dog. Custer, in uniform, is standing between two of the men with two others seated in the foreground on either side of the dog. Custer is wearing a cavalryman's felt hat and neckerchief with mid-calf high boots. The man to Custer’s own right is wearing a uniform jacket, and the other gentlemen are in civilian clothes. Accompanied by its original paper tri-fold with red and white cover and lavender backing. The right side is inscribed, apparently from Custer, "EW Chamberlain Toledo Ohio / DE Bostwick Jackson MI / Martin Lehman Francisco (MI) he only shows ditto marks / Chas Moderitt Blue Ridge Kansas / Your Humble Servant and / my favorite Dog "Dash" / With / Compliments". There is no signature, but given that four of the five subjects in the photograph are named it stands to reason that the photo was a gift from Custer. Accompanied by a letter from D. Mark Katz of the American Image Gallery, Bel Air, CA. wherein he states with absolute certainty that the image "is that of General George Armstrong Custer" and that it is a vintage period copy of another ferrotype "perhaps done in the field by an itinerant period photographer". He states that he would date the image as during the summer of 1874, at which time Custer was in the field with the 7th Cavalry in Dakota Territory on The Black Hills Expedition. He further states that "the pose and hat worn by Custer is similar to K-140, taken by Orlando S. Goff in July 1875". He further states that "this image is unique and --- one of a few copies that were made for the identified men." Mr. Katz also states that the handwriting in the note appears to be that of General Custer and that the dog is similar to others pictured with Custer. CONDITION: Image is fine. Slightly faded with oval markings around the edges from the presentation paper. Paper is very delicate with a small tear in one of the folds, but the writing is legible. 4-51556