Lot 234

Battle of the Little Bighorn Survivors Photograph

Estimate: $750 - $1,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
Featured in this lot is this gelatin silver photograph of “The Battle of the Little Bighorn Survivors” by Bill Groethe. This is a 1998 gelatin silver of the original copies of the photograph taken in 1948. Included is a group photograph with eight Native Americans and nine individual photographs. The reunion took place on September 2, 1948. The group photograph shows eight original Native Americans who were present during the battle, also known as the Battle of Greasy Grass. The ninth man present that day was Ben Black Elk, Sr. who was blind and chose not to participate in the group photograph, but allowed Groethe to take his individual photograph. Those pictured in the group photograph are Little Warrior, Pemmican, Little Soldier, Dewey Beard, John Sitting Bull, High Eagle, Iron Hawk, and Comes Again. Bill Groethe was the official photographer for the event. The glass negatives were lost for many years. They were later discovered and photographs were made using the original glass negatives. One hundred sets were made and became available for purchase. The condition of this gelatin silver photograph is fair, with a slight tear in the bottom right-hand corner. The measurements of this gelatin silver photograph are 26 1/2" x 38 1/4".