GROUP RARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF FORT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, DAKOTA TERRITORY,19th century. Total of 95 photographs contained in two Victorian albums including views of various other geographical sites. Photographs attributed to Civil War veteran Capt. John Pitman, who later became captain of U.S. Ordnance Department, and was subequently assigned to the Dept. of Dakota, July 14, 1886. Pitman served at Fort Abraham Lincoln from July 16, 1886 to November 1889, during the timeframe in which most of these photographs were taken. Highlights of the Fort Lincoln collection include groups of Sioux Indians with U.S. troops, officers row houses, General G.A. Custer's second home at the Fort, gate house, and telegraph poles and wires, ordnance buildings, trading post, and hospital. Most photographs identified and dated in black ink at lower borders of album pages. Each album accompanied by original protective box. - Most photographs: 4 1/2 in. x 7 1/2 in. Box: 7 in. x 10 1/2 in. Estimate $3,500-4,500
Fort Abraham Lincoln, Mandan, ND, considered the most important forts of the Northern Plains, in 1874, maintained 650 Infantry and Cavalry. It was from this fort that Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry set forth on their ill-fated expedition against the Sioux at the Little Big Horn in 1876. Abandoned in 1891 and demolished in 1894, Fort Abraham Lincoln is currently undergoing restoration and has become a tourist attraction.
Both albums are in good condition considering age. Approximately 55 to 60 % of the prints are platinum; the rest collodion. The majority of the platinum prints are in very good condition; any discoloring is due to either the remnants of acids in the processing or caused by the adhesive used to place the prints on the mounts. A number of the collodion prints are somewhat faded - again possibly due to poor processing. The front and back blank pages do have foxing as does the linen tape holding the pages in the albums. The pages/mounts themselves are in good to very good condition.
