This simply fantastic, Card Mount Albumen Photo measures approx. 6 3/8" by 4 3/8" and is mounted on its original photographer’s card mount (overall size of mount is approx. 9 3/8" by 6"). The image pictures Sioux Chief American Horse (Lakota: “Wasechum Tashunka”) and a young Sioux child performer dressed in full traditional regalia – both wear eagle feather headdresses, bone hair-pipe breastplates, beaded moccasins and loincloths. American Horse holds a staff in his right hand while the child holds a rifle. Flanking the Sioux performers are two Cowboy performers – one wearing a wide brimmed hat, woolly chaps, a neckerchief and leather cuffs. The other wears a wide brimmed hat, a “cowboy” tie and leather chaps and holds what appears to be a bullwhip in his right hand. There are two fully tacked horses behind the group along with what appears to be a covered wagon. While the Cowboys are not identified by name, we recognize both as having performed with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and further research should be able to put names with these faces.

    The Photo does not carry a photographer’s mark however there is a contemporary inscription on the reverse that provides the following provenance: “ex-Collection (Prince) Roland de Bonaparte, anthropological in nature begun in 1875. Purchased in Paris ex-Bernard Garrett coll.”. We believe that the Photograph was likely taken in London in 1887 during the first tour of England by Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.

    This rare and wonderful, 1880’s Western Americana / Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Cast, Card Mount Photograph is in very good condition. Both the Photo and the card mount are generally clean and crisp and physically well preserved, the Image is rather light overall and there is a small and thin line of surface damage at the upper left hand corner of the Photo..

    A very rare and wonderful, 1880’s oversize Cabinet Card Photograph of members of the Cowboy and Native American Cast of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West including Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief American Horse and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

    Be sure to check out this seller’s other auctions for a number of other 19th and early 20th century, Native American Artifacts and Photographs which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!