?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 12,000
DESIGNER UNKNOWN ADVENTURES OF BUFFALO BILL. 1917. 40x27 inches, 101 1/2x68 1/2 cm. Morgan Litho Co., Cleveland. Condition B+ / B: tears, minor losses and darkening at edges; tears, creases and water staining along vertical and horizontal folds; water stains at bottom edge. Paper. This film was released on January 29th, 1917, nineteen days after Buffalo Bill died. A contemporary magazine explained that 'Colonel Cody is, of course, the hero of this somewhat loosely constructed, but historically interesting photodrama. In the filming of Indian border warfare many United States troops and Indians are engaged. Most of the veteran scouts of the West were asked by Buffalo Bill to contribute something to his film autobiography and most of them responded' (Current Opinion, March, 1917). In fact, the film was largely a compilation of previously-shot footage. 'In 1914, Wm. F. Cody Historical Picture Co. and Essanay Film Mfg. Co. released a film called The Indian Wars, which was a recreation of four major Indian battles of the late 1800s. Footage for both films was shot in late 1913 in the Bad Lands of South Dakota, the Black Hills of Wyoming, and Nebraska. According to contemporary sources, Essanay re-edited and added material for the 1917 production' (http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/622967/The-Adventures-of-Buffalo-Bill/). The American Film Institute writes that 'Generals Nelson A. Miles, James M. Lee, Frank D. Baldwin, and Marion P. Maus, and 5,000 U.S. troops and Indians recreate battles at Summit Springs and Warbonnet. Also seen are Cody's fight with Chief Tall Bull and his knife duel with Chief Yellow Hand. Another side of the plainsman is illustrated by scenes of Cody and his family at home. The film concludes with picturizations of great hunting expeditions in the Rocky Mountains, including one during which Cody served as guide for the Prince of Monaco' (www.afi.com).
