AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION (MILITARY--BUFFALO SOLDIERS.) A magnificent collection of thirty-eight photographs of African Americans in the West. Includes: tintypes, carte-de-visites, and photographs of various size from 3 x 5 and 4 x 6 to a large 6-7/8 x 9 inch mounted albumen photo 'Our Hunters.'should be seen. Vp, vd: 1870-1905
Includes images taken in most of the Western states and territories, including Arizona, Arkansas, Dakota Territory, Indian Territory, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Among the highlights: a large William Henry Jackson photograph (circa 1871) taken for the Hayden Survey depicting two hunters, (captioned 'Our Hunters'), one of whom is Joe Clark, thought to be the first African American to enter the Yellowstone Valley. Another highlight is the exceptional group of twenty-one images of Buffalo soldiers covering the period of 1870 to 1900. One of these images would be a highlight in this or any other catalogue, but to have such a large and representative group is truly stunning. Within the twenty-one images are infantrymen, cavalrymen, scouts and band members from Arizona, the Dakota Territory, Indian Territory, and Kansas--- many of whom are identified. Included is a photograph of a Buffalo soldier with his wife, another posed with his Springfield 'trap-door' musket with bayonet, and another of a scout with his ammunition belt, filled with what were probably 45.70 cartridges for his musket. Another highlight is a large image of a Wild West Troupe consisting of nearly 100 members including Indians in full dress, scouts, soldiers, and Mexicans with their large brimmed sombreros (circa 1905.) And finally, there is a selection of portraits of the ordinary men, women and children who settled the American West following the Civil War. These people were truly as brave as any soldier, many living under the meanest circumstances, with just the bare essentials.
