This is a rare, original albumen photograph dating to circa 1870s-1880s showing Fort Sully near Pierre, South Dakota. The photo shows the U.S. Army members playing a friendly game of American baseball. Early baseball photos from the Indian Wars era on the Plains are incredibly rare. The photograph is by R.L. Kelly of Pierre, South Dakota Territory. He is said to have taken photographs as early as the 1860s-1870s from the Pierre, South Dakota Territory. He later worked with partner, M.B. Odell of Deadwood, South Dakota who is known for taking the iconic photograph of Sitting Bull with a Monarch Butterfly pinned to his hat in 1883. The photograph shows some of the Officer barracks with a group of U.S. Infantry and Cavalry men playing a game of baseball. Looking closely you can see the men lined up on the baseball diamond with someone having just hit a run and racing towards first base. You can clearly see one of the outfielders' or shortstop's baseball glove at their side. A grouping of players in baseball uniforms can be seen on the right in front of likely officer tents viewing the game and on the left many more soldiers on looking. This is both a rare, unseen image of Fort Sully during the Indian Wars by a noted photographer of the area. It also shows a rare image of early American baseball on the Plains. Front cabinet card shows the albumen photograph and below marked R.L. Kelly, Pierre, S.D. The image is in good condition. Provenance: From the Jim Aplan Piedmont, South Dakota collection. Measures 6.5”L x 4.25”W. U6.*