Original 1886 Buffalo Bill Photograph

Description

This rare original 1886 Buffalo Bill photograph is a museum-quality centerpiece for any serious collector. Available exclusively at AntiqueArmory.com, this oversized sepia-toned portrait captures the legendary William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody alongside eight members of the Pawnee and Lakota tribes. Measuring 13.875″ x 10.875″, this formal group shot was taken at Erastina, Staten Island, during the 1886 season when Cody’s Wild West Show drew millions of spectators.

As a premier piece of Wild West memorabilia, the image features Cody in his iconic frontiersman attire—fringed jacket, wide-cuffed leather gauntlets, and thigh-high gaiters—while holding “Lucrezia Borgia,” his famed Springfield Model 1866 rifle. The composition is historically significant, showcasing the brief period when both Pawnee and Lakota warriors performed together before tribal tensions led to their separation during the subsequent European tour.

This Buffalo Bill Cody collectible was captured by F.J. Hiscock, a renowned Wyoming photographer whose work is preserved in the digital collections of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The lower margin bears the stone-inscribed titles “Buffalo Bill and his Indians” and “Copy by F. J. Hiscock.” This specific historical Western photography remains in very good to near-fine condition, exhibiting only light surface wear and minor scuffs consistent with its 140-year age.

To ensure the highest standards of investment-grade collecting, this authentic antique photograph comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from John Reznikoff, the premier authenticator utilized by industry leaders PSA and JSA. Whether you are an enthusiast of frontier history or a curator of American ephemera, this 1886 portrait represents a definitive moment in the legacy of the American West.