THE LARRY NESS COLLECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY
HIGHLIGHTS | OCTOBER 24, 2025
THE LARRY NESS COLLECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY
HIGHLIGHTS
American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography
October 23, 2025, 10:00 am ET | Cincinnati
Lots 1-222
The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography
October 24, 2025, 10:00 am ET | Cincinnati
Lots 223-376
Presented here are highlights of the over 150 photographs from the spectacular lifelong Native American photography collection of Larry Ness of Yankton, South Dakota. From studio portraits of Native subjects to intimate views of camp life, to dramatic scenes capturing the aftermath of conflict, this session will feature a carefully curated assemblage of photographs documenting the principal figures and events that shaped the Plains peoples’ interactions with White Americans as they moved West after the Civil War. Highlights include a breathtaking mammoth plate photograph of Sioux delegates in front of the White House by Alexander Gardner (Lot 231), a group of 24 CDV portraits of Sioux chiefs and warriors at the Red Cloud Agency in Cheyenne, Wyoming (Lot 292), and a collection of rare stereoviews captured by S. J. Morrow during General Crook’s 1876 Expedition (Lot 307).
$2,000 - 3,000
albumen photograph of
A group of 8 CDVs of Sioux involved in the 1862 Dakota Uprising in Minnesota incl. executed subjects. St.
$1,000 - 1,500
Lot 223
Hand-colored
Wagasapa or Iron Whip, Head Chief of the Poncas, Dakota Territory.
Lot 226
Paul, MN: Whitney’s Gallery.
Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Indians on Visit to their “Great Father.” Washington, DC, 23 February 1867.
$20,000 - 30,000
Antonio Zeno (1823-1899), photographer]. Photograph of Iron Black Bird, Yankton Dakota. [Washington, DC, 1867].
$1,000 - 2,000
Lot 231
GARDNER,
Lot 237
[SHINDLER,
Lot 241
GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Albumen photograph of council meeting at Fort Laramie, showing multiple commissioners with Arapaho and Cheyenne leaders. May 1868.
$3,000 - 5,000
Lot 252
[GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), or William Henry JACKSON (1843-1942)]. Albumen photograph of Medicine Bear, Yankton Dakota. [Washington, DC. 1872].
$1,000 - 2,000
Lot 248
GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Albumen photograph of Red Cloud and William Blackmore. Washington, DC, 1872.
$3,000 - 4,000
Lot 256
JACKSON, William Henry (1843-1942)]. Two CDVs of a Pawnee scout holding a tomahawk. Omaha, NE.
$600 - 800
Lot 264
O’SULLIVAN, Timothy (1840-1882) and William BELL (1830-1910), photographers. Complete Set of 50 stereoviews from the Wheeler Expeditions of 1871-1874.
$3,000 - 5,000
$3,000 - 4,000
Lot 268
[BELL, Charles M. (1848-1893), photographer]. Albumen photograph of the Ponca Delegation. Washington, DC, 1877.
Lot 267
[BRADY, Mathew (1822-1896), photographer]. Albumen photograph of the Sioux Delegation to Washington, DC, 1877.
$3,000 - 5,000
$700 - 1,000
$500 - 700
$700 - 1,000
Lot 279
BLISS, William P. (b. ca 1840), photographer. Cabinet card of Apache Medicine Council. Fort Sill, Indian Territory, ca 1875.
Lot 290
CURRIER, Frank F. (1841-1887), photographer. Stereoview of Indian trader and Interpreter Julius Meyer and Sioux chiefs, incl. Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Swift Bear, and Spotted Tail. Omaha, NE, 1875.
Lot 291
Cabinet card of Red Cloud, Young Spotted Tail, and Charles P. Jordan. Ca 1882.
$1,000 - 1,500
Lot 273
[SOULE, William S. (1836-1908), photographer]. Photograph of an Indian encampment near the Canadian River, Indian Territory. Ca 1868.
Lot 292
MITCHELL, Daniel S. (1838-1929), photographer. A group of 24 CDVs of Sioux chiefs and warriors at Red Cloud Agency. Cheyenne, WY, ca 1877.
$10,000 - 15,000
Lot 297
[CUSTER, George A. (1839-1876)]. CDV of Custer as Major General. [Washington, DC: John Goldin & Co., 1865].
$500 - 700
Lot 295
SOULE, William S. (1836-1908), photographer. Boudoir photograph of Ralph Morrison, scalped hunter near Fort Dodge, Kansas, 1868.
$2,000 - 3,000
Lot 299
[CUSTER, George A. (1839-1876)]. [POWERS, D. E., photog.]. Last known photograph of Custer and Spotted Tail at the Grand Duke’s Mess Tent. Omaha, NE: E.L. Eaton, 1872.
$1,500 - 2,500
Lot 303
ILLINGWORTH, W.H. (18441893), photographer. A group of 37 stereoviews of George Custer’s expedition to the Black Hills.
$4,000 - 6,000
Lot 307
MORROW, Stanley J. (1843-1921), photographer. A group of 19 stereoviews from General Crook’s Expedition and the Black Hills series, incl. reenactment of the 1876 “Starvation March.”
$6,000 - 8,000
$500 - 700
$500 - 700
800
Lot 308
[CUSTER, George Armstrong]. Cabinet card of Osage scout identified as “Howard Mandan” who served with Custer at the Battle of Washita. Fort A. Lincoln, DT: M.A. Breese & Co.
Lot 309
CDV of Little Brave, Arikara scout for the 7th US Cavalry, KIA Little Bighorn. $2,000 - 3,000
Lot 313
[GOFF, O.S. (1843-1916), photographer]. Cabinet card portrait of Rain-inthe-Face. [Bismarck, Dakota Territory].
Lot 317
GILBERT, Zalmon (1841-1897), photographer. Cabinet card of Chief Gall. Mandan, Dakota, ca 1880s.
$600 -
HOWARD, Charles (b. ca 1842-?), photographer. Three photographs of Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Territory, incl. camp of the 2nd Cavalry near the North Platte River.
$2,000 - 3,000
Stanley
$600 - 800
Lot 335
HAYNES, Frank J. (1853-1921), photographer. A group of 7 stereoviews highlighted by two self portraits of Haynes with his camera.
$600 - 800
W.R.
$800 - 1,200
photographer. CDV
an unidentified 5th US Cavalry second lieutenant.
Lot 327
Lot 337
MORROW,
J. (1843-1921), photographer. Cabinet card of Luther “Yellowstone” Kelly. Yankton, Dakota Territory.
Lot 341
CROSS,
(1839-1907),
of Brule Lakota Sioux Chief Hollow Horn Bear with
Niobrara, NE: [ca 1880].
Lot 342
CROSS, W.R. (1839-1907), photographer. CDV of Sitting Bull. Niobrara, NE.
$500 - 700
Lot 348
BARRY, David F. (1854-1934), photographer. Photograph of Sitting Bull’s trial at Standing Rock Agency, 1886.
$800 - 1,200
Lot 353
SCOTT, George W. (1854-1910), publisher. Cabinet card of Sitting Bull’s Ghost Dance, Grand River, D.T., 1890.
$500 - 700
Lot 360
[WOUNDED KNEE]. Four photographs taken in the immediate aftermath of Wounded Knee, incl. Lt. Sydney Cloman on the battlefield surrounded by dead Lakota members of Big Foot’s Band. January 1891.
$1,000 - 2,000
Lot 366
GRABILL, John C.H. (1849-1903), photographer. Photograph of General Nelson Miles and his staff viewing a Lakota camp after Wounded Knee, January 1891.
$800 - 1,200
GRABILL, John C.H. (1849-1903), photographer. Photograph of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody with war correspondents and US Cavalry officers at Pine Ridge, 1891.
$1,000 - 1,500
“Drawings Presented to Rev. Pius Boehm by His Little Indian Children.” [Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota.] 4 May 1899.
$5,000 - 7,000
Lot 363
Lot 371