[CUSTER, George Armstrong]. BARRY, David. F. (1854-1934), photographer. Two cabinet cards of the Monument at Custer's Battleground, Near Fort Custer, M.T.

2 cabinet photographs on cardstock mounts, the first with caption in lower margin, "Monument at Custer's Battle Ground. Near Fort Custer, M.T.," and verso imprint of D.F. Barry. Fully visible in the image are two men and a dog sitting on either side of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument memorial obelisk, erected in 1881 by the War Department. It lists the names of the officers and soldiers "who fell near this place fighting with the 7th United States Cavalry against Sioux Indians." -- Uncredited view of the monument, with detailed period inscription on verso in an unknown hand, noting that the image was taken on 28 September 1883. The inscription states, in part, "The monument is on the spot where Custer fell on the top of the hill which is a backbone hill running about a half mile...(opposite side to the view side) there were about 2000 Indians who finished the Massacre. The only Survivor of the Battle is a horse named Commanche [sic] now at Fort Meade..." A modern typed note accompanies the cabinet card, indicating that the photograph was collected by Thomas Gibbon, who was stationed in Butte, Montana with the US Army in the Signal Corps, and became good friends with the Crow Indian Chiefs and their families at the nearby reservation. No further provenance accompanies the the image or the lot.

The granite memorial sits atop Last Stand Hill, and the remains of soldiers and personnel are buried in a mass grave below, with some of the remains of 7th cavalrymen marked by marble gravestones.

Together, 2 cabinet photographs.

The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Some scattered spotting to uncredited photograph of the monument. Mounts with light soiling and some edge and corner wear.

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Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

[CUSTER, George Armstrong]. BARRY, David. F. (1854-1934), photographer. Two cabinet cards of the Monument at Custer's Battleground, Near Fort Custer, M.T.

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