For your consideration is an Original Rare Custer's Black Hills Expedition Photograph, circa 1874, by W. H. Illingworth. Column of cavalry, artillery, and wagons, commanded by Gen. George A. Custer, crossing the plains of Dakota Territory. Provenance: From the John Kleinschmidt collection which was on loan to the C.M. Russell Museum from 1987 to 1993 and included in the "The Cowboy West: 100 Years of Photography 1992-1993 exhibit. A museum tag is affixed, labeled "1396-87 O'Dell". The Black Hills Expedition was to look for suitable locations for a fort, find a route to the southwest, and to investigate the possibility of gold mining. This prompted a mass gold rush which in turn antagonized the Sioux Indians, and two years later culminated in defeat for Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Probably due to his experience on the fourth Fisk expedition to Montana Territory, Illingworth was selected as photographer to Custer's 1874 military expedition by then-Captain William Ludlow, Chief Engineer of the Department of Dakota, who was in charge of mapping and scientific data collection for the expedition. This photograph includes views of some of the 1000-1200 men, in 110 wagons with numerous horses and cattle of the 7th Cavalry, along with artillery and two months food supply. Photograph is mounted in a wood frame, the reverse is labeled, "7th Cavalry", with a typed description, "7th Cavalry as escort to the wagon train prior to battle of "The Little Big Horn". Photograph appears in very nice preserved condition. Visible image measures 3.875"W x 6.75"L, frame is 6.5"W x 10"L x .5"D.