This fascinating Photograph measures approx. 5 1/2" by 3 1/4" and pictures Ed Phillips on horseback wearing Wild West Show costume and roping an American Buffalo / Bison that is being ridden by another cowboy performer. There are spectators on the outside of the rail surrounding the arena and buildings surrounding the arena lead us to believe that the photograph was likely taken in London during the European Tour of the Show.

    This Photograph came to us as part of a small collection of Photographs and Ephemera that originated directly from the estate of Ed and Mary Phillips and was originally the personal property of the Phillips family.

    Ed Phillips was born in Salina, Kansas in 1868 and followed the life of a cowboy from his early youth. Ed and his wife Mary, whose maiden name was Kempton, of Terry, Montana, toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West from 1900 to 1905. He was an all around Cowboy performer who specialized as a roper and trick rope artists but also rode bucking broncos, roped and wrestled cattle and appeared in the numerous “Wild West tableaux that were at the heart of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. His brother in law, Berney Kempton, worked with Doc Carver’s Wild West Show in the 1890s. Ed Phillips knew and worked with famous people from the wild west and Hollywood. He knew, worked and associated with people like Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, and Pawnee Bill who had his own Wild West show. Ed Phillips knew Iron Tail and consulted for Tom Mix on films. He associated with Charles Siringo, Will James, and Emmit Dalton. Ed is listed in a photo from famed western photographer L. A. Huffman that appears in an image in the book, “Before Barbed Wire” (photo #97). Phillips is discussed and pictured in James W. Wojtowicz's book, “The W. F. Cody’s, Buffalo Bill Collectors Guide” on pages 69 and in plates 69, 179, and 184. There are also other artifacts owned by Ed on page 186 and 205 and plate 314 in the same volume.

    Princeton University Archives holds a collection of photographs, manuscripts, diaries, and ephemera relating to Edward H. Phillips (1868-1944), his wife Marie (Mary) Kempton Phillips (1881-1946), and their daughter Jean Sarah Phillips (1908–1985) that document ranch life in and around Montana around the turn of the 20th century as well as Ed Phillips' involvement in Wild West shows, including Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and his career as a Hollywood actor. Notably, there are over 550 negatives taken by Marie Kempton Phillips with a hand-held camera dating from circa 1904 to 1938, many of which depict life on a Montana ranch, novelty steer riding and rodeo scenes, horse races and other performances, cattle branding, wagon trains, horse-breaking, and more. Also of special interest are Marie's diary for 1904 documenting the period when she and her husband traveled back and forth from Montana to New York working various jobs at cattle ranches and performing in contests and a Wild West show in Coney Island. The collection includes photographs of Kempton family members (some with stamps from Miles City, Montana, the studio of frontier photographer L. A. Huffman), letters written by Ed and Marie Phillips and a short diary written while on board the U.S.M.S. "St. Louis," describing the voyage to England with the cast of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

    This rare and likely one of a kind ca1902 Western Americana / Wild West Show Photograph is in very good condition. The Photograph exhibits slightly soft focus and good contrast and tonality. There is a vertical line of darkening at the right hand side of the Image and some edge wear but overall the Image is well preserved and will display nicely with a quality matting and framing.

    A very rare and original, ca1902 Photograph of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Cowboy Performer Ed Phillips – a lasso artist and roper who appeared with the Show from 1900 to 1905 – roping a Buffalo on horseback and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

    Be sure to check out this seller’s other auctions for other original Photographs of Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Ed and Mary Phillips which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!