r/WildWestPics

The men belonged to the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, an experimental unit of Black enlisted soldiers based at Fort Missoula. Each bicycle carried camping equipment, food, a rifle, ammunition and repair gear. The corps rode from Montana to St. Louis through mud, sand, rocks and mountain weather to test the bicycle as a military transport. The experiment ended as the Army shifted its attention to the Spanish-American War and, later, motor vehicles.

William Notman & Son made this portrait in Montreal in August 1885. Sitting Bull had permission to tour with Buffalo Bill Cody's show for one season and became one of its headliners. The National Park Service says the two men became friends and that Cody gave him a trained gray horse. Wild West shows offered Native performers income and travel, but they also packaged and reinforced stereotypes for paying audiences.

Two (2) Frederic Remington (American, 1861-1909) chromolithographs, "Old Ramon" and "A Cheyenne Buck," from the portfolio "A Bunch of Buckskins." Published by Robert Howard Russell, with printed copyright information in the lower left corners (1901).

Housed as issued in the original portfolio case with printed title label and fabric ties and includes Introductory Note by Owen Wister.

Each Sheet: 20 in. H x 15 in. W. Introductory Note: 25 in. H. x 19 1/2 in. W. Portfolio: 26 3/8 in. H x 20 in. W x 1/4 in. D. 1901. 

Note: "A Bunch of Buckskins," was a portfolio that originally contained eight (8) lithographic images of Western subjects, was regarded as Frederic Remington’s most successful print series. It was published in 1901 by frequent Remington collaborator R.H. Russell. (The original pastels from the portfolio were included in the artist’s first solo gallery exhibition in New York in December 1901).

This pair of chromoliths sold at Chase Antique Auctions on August 1-2 for $984, somewhat lower than the house low estimate of $1,600.