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THBWounded Knee Massacre & Pine Ridge Agency, Exceptional Photograph Album
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (392)
- Lot Description
An exceptional photo album documenting the Wounded Knee Massacre and scenes in and around Pine Ridge Agency in the year 1891. Album is 7 x 10 in, bound in burgundy buckram, containing 52 boudoir-size albumen prints, approx. 4 x 7 in. to 6 x 8 in., most with credit in the negative to Northwestern Photo Co., Chadron, Nebraska. That outfit's proprietor, George Trager (1861-1948) photographed most of the views made December 1890 to January 1891 and his partner Clarence Moreledge photographed another series of views on July 4, 1891. Cowan's has never seen a Wounded Knee album this extensive in our 20+ years and several of the photographs we have never seen in person or even published in photographic histories of the event, such as Jensen, Carter & Paul's Eyewitness at Wounded Knee.
All of the most well-known Wounded Knee scenes are present, including "Bird's Eye View of 7th Cav. Camp at Wounded Knee S.D.before the Fight With Chief Big Foot's Band Dec. 29th 1891," the views of US military and Indian scout groups posed together, and views taken on New Years Day, 1891 showing the battlefield following the massacre, Chief Big Foot's contorted corpse, the gathering of the Sioux dead, burial of the frozen bodies in the mass grave surrounded by US soldiers, and Buffalo Bill Cody and General Miles inspecting the scene on horseback. Lesser seen photographs include portraits of the "Leaders of the Hostile Indians" Chiefs Two Strike, Crow Dog and High Hawk, by themselves and with Buffalo Bill and Major Burke, "Disarming Hostile Indians" showing Indians laying down their arms as US Cavalry lines the ridge above them, a view of "Capt. Taylor's Noted Indian Scouts," Chief Fast Thunder's Camp, Red Cloud's home, and more.
Also included are photographs taken on and around July 4, 1891, attributed to Trager's partner Clarence Moreledge, who resorted to saloon robbery soon after breaking his partnership with Trager. These include general views of Pine Ridge Agency and its school, series of photographs of an Omaha dance, Sioux Indians dancing the Scalp Dance, Sioux gathering for beef issue day and waiting in line for rations, "A Sioux Graveyard" showing several simple wood caskets placed on and around a bed frame, Two Strike and Crow Dog's camp, and many more. Of particular note is a photograph titled "Troop B Ogallala Indian Scouts" showing the well-outfitted scouts posed with their lieutenant, John J. Pershing, the future General of the Armies during World War I, and a fine photograph of US soldiers posed around a Hotchkiss gun. A copy portrait of Sitting Bull is followed by portraits of Chief Flying Horse, The Misses Few Tails, and Indian Policeman Fast Horse, all posed in front of the same muslin backdrop painted with scenes of Indians in battle.
The album is stamped several times "These Views Made By Frank E. Pilbeam/ Hermosa S. Dak.", and "Frank Pilbeam/ Photographer/ Lansing, Mich." Though Pilbeam is clearly not responsible for the views and we could find no record of him ever being in South Dakota and only a few references of a Frank Pilbeam in Michigan, where he ran an amusement company, the album was recently found in a home near Lansing.
A rare and remarkable find. A comparable album is unlikely to surface again anytime soon.
Album pages are slightly warped and lightly soiled, with some stains mostly confined to the margins. Most prints are very good with above average tonality, especially considering that most Northwest Photo Co. prints we have handled are typically rather faded. Some do exhibit light foxing, and four have some spots of missing albumen from sticking to the opposite page.Condition
- Shipping Info
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SHIPPING. At the request of the buyer, Cowan's will authorize the shipment of purchased items. Shipments usually occur within two weeks after payment has been received. Shipment is generally made via UPS Ground service. Unless buyer gives special instructions, the shipping method shall be at the sole discretion of Cowan's Auctions, Inc.. Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
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