[CUSTER, George Armstrong (1839-1876)]. Albumen portrait ph...

[CUSTER, George Armstrong (1839-1876)]. Albumen portrait photograph. St. Louis: J.A. Scholten, ca. 24 January 1872. On original printed studio mount with tissue guard, overall 248 x 152 mm; image 146 x 108 mm. This iconic image of Custer depicts the general in buckskins, with hunting rifle and wearing his trademark red kerchief. At the time Russia’s Grand Duke Alexis was visiting the United States for a “western adventure” and had specifically requested Custer for a buffalo hunt guided by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody with the expedition being led by General William Tecumseh Sherman. This original version of Scholten’s photograph was distributed in very limited numbers as a tipped-in addition to the Philadelphia Photographer, a small publication distributed to professional photographers of the day. A RARE ORIGINAL IMAGE, widely copied and issued in cabinet format after the Battle of Little Big Horn.