Offered for public sale is this set of showpiece Sioux Native American Indian fully beaded hide hard-soled men’s moccasins dating to the 19th Century. These moccasins have a rich provenance and history as they were owned by renowned Wyoming Marshall Sheriff John Allen, known as “Happy Jack Allen”. The moccasins are visually striking with a traditional geometric “Buffalo Track” design done in all period correct 19th Century glass trade seed beads of colors such as cobalt, chalk white, and semi-transparent red. The set also shows fully beaded uppers, bifurcated (forked) tongues with some of the original rolled tin jingle cones and a blue trade ribbon clothe trimmed ankle cuff which truly makes the set show well. The moccasins soles are remnants from an early Sioux polychrome painted parfleche envelope with the traditional geometric designs being seen on the inside of the set, an attribute that truly lends to the early age and authenticity of this fine set. Provenance: From the Historical Native American Artifacts and Weapons private museum collection in Paris, France. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Jason Tyler Gallery in Toledo, Ohio. The certificate states the provenance as being a 19th Century set of authentic Sioux Moccasins that were from the personal estate of Wyoming Marshall John Allen. The set was also sold in the June 2003 Brian Lebel’s Old West Show and Auction in Cody, Wyoming. Sheriff Robert John Allen, known as “Happy Jack Allen”, was born on April 18, 1876 in Brooklyn, New York and was orphaned in 1880. At the age of 14 he emigrated from the East Coast and took a job at the Arbuckle Ranch on Pole Creek, outside Cheyenne. In 1892 he was hired by U.S. Senator J.M. Carey’s CY Cattle Ranch outside of Casper. This was the ranch used as a staging area when the cattlemen of the area employed about 40 hired guns to drive out the outlaws and rustlers, which is now known as the Johnson County War. In 1897 Allen and his fellow CY cowboys raided the famous outlaw hideout named “Hole in the Wall” to recover stolen cattle and had a shootout with the gang residing there where Allen killed one and wounded and captured another (Allen fought against the Hole in the Wall Gang and Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch including such cattle rustlers and outlaws as Butch Cassidy, Elzy Lay, the Sundance Kid, Tall Texan, News Carver, Camilla “Deaf Charley” Hanks, Laura Bullion, Flat-Nose Curry, Kid Curry, Bob Meeks, and Black Jack Ketchum). As a bronc rider he competed in the first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1897. In 1898 Allen enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry Torrey’s Rough Riders becoming a Sargent in Troop K and became a member of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. He rode with Teddy Roosevelt up to San Juan Hill. When he returned from his service with Roosevelts Rough Riders, he returned to the CY Ranch and in 1903 was hired as Deputy Sheriff of Natrona County Casper, Wyoming. Then later in 1905 he rode with the Buffalo Bill Wild West show performing on a two-year tour which included the European tour. After serving in law enforcement in Pennsylvania for a short time, he returned to Wyoming again and in 1921 was appointed a State Agent of Law Enforcement. In 1923 he was appointed Deputy U.S. Marshall for Wyoming and in 1929 was appointed as Commissioner of Law Enforcement for the State of Wyoming (today’s Chief of Wyoming State Police). He was appointed U.S. Marshall for Wyoming by President Herbert Hoover. Happy Jack Allen items of historic importance are increasingly scarce with a Colt Single Action Army and Law Enforcement Collection known to have been owned by Allen, such as these moccasins, were listed and sold for $12,000 and $37,500 respectively. Another revolver owned by Allen is on display at the Nelson Museum of the West in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The moccasins are in fine original condition and are a true museum piece on their own as they date to the third to fourth quarter of the 19th Century (1800’s). The set shows a combination of both sinew and trade cotton sewn construction and has very little to no bead loss. The fancy beaded edged forked tongue is truly a wonderful addition. The set shows the correct manufacture, patina, and provenance to be considered completely correct. Each measure 11 inches long sole with a 3 ½ inch high ankle and is 4 ½ inches wide. Similar provenance and aged moccasins have sold at auction for between $6,000 to $11,000 with this set showing a much more prominent owner and incredible condition / craftsmanship. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.