AMERICAN INDIAN. SITTING BULL (actual name: Tatanka Iyotake), Chief of the Hunkpapa Sioux. Bold signature on a blank calling card, [Philadelphia, 6 October l884]. One page, a small oblong, 52 x 84mm. (2 l/16 in. x 3 1/4 in.). Verso with ink inscription: "Signature on the other side was written by the Sioux Indian Chief 'Sitting Bull,' Monday, Oct. 6 l884, at Association Hall, Philadel[phia] ...given to me by Mr. Jas. M. Bullock, who got it from him (Sitting Bull)."

Details

AMERICAN INDIAN. SITTING BULL (actual name: Tatanka Iyotake), Chief of the Hunkpapa Sioux. Bold signature on a blank calling card, [Philadelphia, 6 October l884]. One page, a small oblong, 52 x 84mm. (2 l/16 in. x 3 1/4 in.). Verso with ink inscription: "Signature on the other side was written by the Sioux Indian Chief 'Sitting Bull,' Monday, Oct. 6 l884, at Association Hall, Philadel[phia] ...given to me by Mr. Jas. M. Bullock, who got it from him (Sitting Bull)."

Probably signed during Sitting Bull's travels with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. With the proliferation of forgeries in the field of Western autographs, examples like the present, with an early provenance, are especially significant.