542 of 289 lots
542
[NATIVE AMERICANS]. GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Cabinet card of Black Eye, Sans Arc Sioux. Washington, DC, ca 1872.
Estimate: $500-$700
Sold
$800
Live Auction
American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography
Location
Cincinnati
Description

[NATIVE AMERICANS]. GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Cabinet card of Black Eye, Sans Arc Sioux. Washington, DC, ca 1872.



Cabinet photograph on cardstock mount of Black Eye, or Ish-tah-sah-pah, Sans Arc Sioux. Manuscript identification in lower margin, "Black Eye." Verso with Gardner's Washington, DC, imprint and manuscript notation in an unknown hand, "Upper Yanktonais [sic], Our Indian Friend in our house among the Sioux of Fort Sully, Dacotah [sic] for 7 years."

Provenance: Acquired from an October 2024 auction containing material identified to General David Sloane Stanley (1828-1902) (consignor notes). After graduating from West Point in 1852, Stanley was assigned to frontier duty. He was stationed at various forts in the Dakota Territory, Indian Territory, and Kansas, where he aided in quelling disturbances at the Kansas border in 1856. When the Civil War began, he was given command of a division in the Western Theater, participating in numerous battles over the next three years. He was wounded in the neck at the Battle of Franklin and later received the Medal of Honor for his actions (November 1864). Following the Civil War, Stanley was appointed colonel of the 22nd US Infantry, primarily serving in the Dakota Territory until 1874. He was the Commanding Officer at Fort Sully, Dakota Territory, from 1867-1873, so it is entirely possible that the photograph offered here was inscribed in Stanley's hand. Following his time at Fort Sully, Stanley commanded the Yellowstone expedition of 1873, encouraging settlement in the area. 


This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Condition
Toning throughout, light spotting. Edge and corner wear to mount, including some soiling to margins, small surface abrasion in lower margin of mount recto.