Morphy’s $1.9M Old West Auction was a bidders’ battleground where White Bull’s historic Lakota storybook charged to $270,600

Other noteworthy highlights: spectacular 1930s Bohlin silver and gold parade saddle, $233,700; Henry Model 1860 rifle with Rideout provenance, $41,820; massive Qualey Bros. silver spurs, $29,520

LAS VEGAS – Morphy’s January 24 auction of Western and Native American art, relics and memorabilia held at the Westgate Casino & Resort in Las Vegas drew an engaged roomful of bidders, each intent on claiming a piece of authentic cowboy history. In the end, the annual specialty event rounded up a robust $1.9 million, with top-lot honors going to a unique and historically important book documenting Lakota Sioux tribal history.

Created and maintained by Chief Sitting Bull’s nephew White Bull (1849-1947), the 162-page historical ledger and storybook was specifically intended to document Indian battles in the West. Consisting of 120 narrative pages, 33 illustrated color pages, and 28 additional pages that were either blank or faced drawings, the ledger was both visual and informative. “What made it especially unique was that it was a personal and original biographical account of battles, coups, combats and even included winter population counts of the Sioux,” said Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions. “White Bull claimed to have killed General Custer – which may or may not have been true – but the book does record what appears to be his fight with Custer, in addition to many other battles in which he was personally involved.” 

Mike Cowdrey, a respected author of books on Native American topics, observed that, in terms of Lakota historiography, White Bull’s ledger/storybook is “comparable in importance to the diaries of Thomas Jefferson – a unique and irreplaceable resource.” Its importance certainly did not go unnoticed, as it was bid competitively to $270,600, more than twice its high estimate. 

A sensational showpiece, an Edward H. Bohlin sterling silver and gold parade saddle in 100% original condition had been custom-made in the late 1930s for a noted equestrienne, Louise Cottam of Santa Barbara, California. Ms Cottam chose the saddle for her appearances at numerous horse shows, parades and other events. Morphy’s catalog noted that its design was actually a slight variation on the Machris model, which Bohlin debuted in their 1937 catalog. The saddle was also featured in James Nottage’s reference book titled Saddlemaker to the Stars. Together with a matching bridle, second breast collar, and saddle set, and with provenance from the celebrated George Pitman collection of Rancho Santa Fe, California, it sold for $233,700 against an estimate of $100,000-$150,000. 

Steeped in Old West lore, a Henry Model 1860 lever-action rifle was identified through its serial number as having been from a 90-gun shipment sent to Ft Knox, Maine, in 1864. It was actually stamped with the name of its New England destination, where it was issued to Lt Ezra Rideout of the 15th Maine. In 1869, Ezra gifted the rifle to his brother, Jacob Rideout, a traveling preacher whose documented Kansas acquaintances included Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, the infamous sheriff William “Buffalo Bully” Brooks, and quite likely the Earp brothers. Engraved Jacob Rideout / Contention Arizona Ter., the fabled longarm is shown in two classic reference books: Wiley Sword’s The Historic Henry Rifle, and George Madis’ The Winchester Book. At auction, it landed above its high estimate, at $41,820. 

Another item with Western celebrity status was an inscribed sword-stick cane presented to Buffalo Bill Cody on his 45th birthday (Feb. 26, 1891) by his business partner and vice-president Nate Salsbury. Its silver-plated handle was engraved with images from Cody’s life and topped with a color inset image on ivory of Buffalo Bill wearing a suit and Stetson hat. Bearing silver hallmarks for the year 1891 and the maker’s name “George Fox of London,” the one-of-a-kind memento sold for $15,600 against an estimate of $7,000-$10,000.

The auction gave collectors of silver spurs ample choice with a 55-lot selection that showcased many of the greatest names in Western silverwork. A pair of massive double-mounted shield and dome-mounted sterling silver spurs by Qualey Bros boasted 2¾-inch shanks, each with the classic Qualey split-tip detail, and 2½-inch rowels. Both had basket-stamped straps adorned with proportional 2¾-inch conchos and were marked Qualey Bros. Joseph Ida on their interiors. With a line of provenance that included the famed Ron and Linda Gillett collection, the duo sold just shy of their high estimate, for $29,520.

Made in the early 1900s at the Southern California workshop of J Tapia, a filigreed, overlaid and underlaid coin-silver ring-bit on bridle displayed the maker’s characteristic stylized cheeks and a slobber-bar adorned with raised, domed, multi-petal floral spots. It had a period split-ear California leather headstall attached to a later set of braided, closed-leather reins with a romel and popper, and sold for $23,370 against an estimate of $15,000-$20,000.

Antique horsehair bridles made by inmates in Western penitentiaries comprise a popular collecting category of their own. An especially-nice example offered by Morphy’s was painstakingly crafted at Deer Lodge Montana State Penitentiary, with a hitched round slider on the reins; hot pink, blue and red “diamond” patterns on a yellow ground, and multicolored horsehair tassels. It attracted 13 bids before settling near its high estimate at $14,400.

The revered Bohlin name also lent its magic to a handsome gold filigreed and sterling silver buckle and belt set with a bas-relief “chief” or ‘Indian-head” design. The belt, which made a proud artistic statement with its eight mounted, two-color gold Indian heads, was created by Cody, Wyoming, saddle maker and Bohlin tooler Keith Seidel. The set rose to $7,380 against a $3,000-$4,000 estimate.

Nearly 100 pieces of fine art crossed the auction block. An oil-on-canvas painting by WHD Koerner (1878-1938), titled Jubilo Where Did You Sleep Last Night, measured 24 by 36 inches (sight) and was artist-signed and dated 1919 in the lower right-hand corner. It realized $19,200. A Harry Jackson mixed-media and bronze sculpture on a marble base, titled Pony Express II, was double-signed and dated in bronze ©Harry Jackson 1980, with a PE II 46F mark and WFS Italia stamp. This well-executed artwork sold for $17,220 against an estimate of $8,000-$10,000.

Consignments are currently being accepted for Morphy’s next Old West Auction in Las Vegas. To discuss consigning a collection or individual item, call Dan Morphy tollfree at 877-968-8880 or email [email protected]. There is never an obligation to consign, and all enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.