Lot 638
[NATIVE AMERICANS]. A group of 10 photographs of the Custer Battlefield and Crow Indians, incl. Chief "Two Moons" and "Curly."
Sale 960 - American Historical Ephemera & Photography
Nov 15, 2021 11:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati
Estimate
$1,000 - $1,500

Sold for $1,625

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[NATIVE AMERICANS]. A group of 10 photographs of the Custer Battlefield and Crow Indians, incl. Chief "Two Moons" and "Curly."
4 1/2 x 6 5/8 in. silver gelatin photograph on cardstock mount (spotting, a stain, minor toning). Period ink title to mount recto: "'Two Moons' Chief of Northern Cheyenne. Fought Against Gen. Custer June 25, 1876."

An outdoor image of an aged Cheyenne Chief Two Moons at camp. Two Moons (1847-1917) had a great reputation as a warrior and leader and is best known for his participation in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Towards the end of the Indian Wars when most of the violence had been quelled, Two Moons took a political role for his tribe. He worked as a scout for the US Army and also served as chief of the Northern Cheyenne reservation.

[With:] "Curly" Custer's Scout. Outdoor image of Curly standing next to a woman holding a small child on her back, both in front of a tipi with another in the background. -- Custer Battlefield. Outdoor image showing gravestones. -- Custer Battlefield. Outdoor image showing a fenced monument and gravestones. -- Outdoor portrait of an infant in a beaded and fur papoose. -- Outdoor portrait of a woman wrapped in a blanket holding a crying infant in a papoose. -- Together, 5 silver gelatin photographs, in green cardstock mats, each approx. 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 in., some fading, mostly good condition, 3 with period ink inscribed titles.

[Also with:] Crow Indian Dancing Costume. Outdoor portrait of a man wearing headdress, dance costume, and holding a pole. -- Outdoor image of wooden cross reading "Here Fell Custer June 25, 1876." -- "Gives to the Sun" Crow Squaw. Outdoor portrait of a woman wrapped in a fringed blanket, her hair in braids. --   
Crow Burial Scaffold. Outdoor image of two corpses wrapped in blankets and placed on the wooden bier. -- Together, 4 silver gelatin photographs mounted to tan cardstock, 6 1/2 x 4 5/8 in., some spotting, chipping to mounts, first two with "Fred E. Miller, Crow Agency, Montana" photographer's imprint stamped to mount versos, 3 with period ink inscribed titles.

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