Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2246:
Description
This home-museum quality shadowbox commemorates the 1876 “Campaign Climax” at the Little Bighorn, featuring an 1872 pattern leather cartridge box with an internal canvas-loop Hagner-style insert, several .45-70 and .31 caliber Thuer cartridges, and dug relics including “Seated Liberty” coinage and 1854 pattern eagle buttons. The presentation is anchored by a tactical map and historical cabinet card-style photographs of General George A. Custer, Captain Tom Custer, and Chief Rain-In-The-Face, alongside a 7th Cavalry crossed-sabers insignia. Superior provenance is established via internal markings including an “A.R. SMITH” inspector’s stamp and a handwritten label attributing recovery to “Finnegan.” Accompanying documentation from 1989 includes letters from Bob Johnson (Bob’s Old Guns) and Richard Downing, specifically identifying spent .45-70 cases recovered 400 yards east of Reno Hill in September 1982—items recovered by Indians from fallen soldiers on Custer Hill and fired back at Reno’s command. The artifacts show significant authentic aging; the leather exhibits heavy crazing and wear, the metallic relics display a characteristic excavated patina and oxidation, and the photographs show expected sepia fading with adhesive remnants and period notations on the reverse. H 24.75″, W 31″, D 2.75″. Please see photos for condition. Note: Pickup/ Transport required. Contacts available post auction.
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