Set of Custer's Last Stand Cabinet Cards

[chas]

Heritage Auction Galleries, Auction Name: 2006 June Political Memorabilia and Americana Auction #635 Bidding Begins: May 19 2006, Bidding Ends: On or before Jun 08 2006 12:00AM

Set of Custer's Last Stand Cabinet Cards from the Boston Cyclorama, 1889. Five slightly oversize, 8.5" x 5.25", cabinet images, each with an Allen & Rowell backmark. The Cyclorama, built in 1884, originally housed the huge and terribly realistic mural of Gettysburg by Paul D. Philippoteaux. As the Civil War exhibit's popularity declined, it was replaced in 1889 by a similar painting showing the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. These scarce photographs document the new mural's opening at the Cyclorama. Of these images, four are combat scenes showing thinning ranks of blue-clad cavalrymen being swept away by a Sioux tidal wave. The fifth scene is of the Cyclorama foyer, which contains portraits of Custer, a teepee, and a ticket booth. The images are aged as expected. Minor chipping and stains are present, but do not detract from the overall appeal of these items.

tinyurl.com/e7h2u



(Modified using tinyurl.com to avoid blowing out the board. -- DM)

[El Crab]

At long last, the mystery is solved. When I read Ambrose's "Crazy Horse & Custer", it had an odd image on the front of what I assumed was the battle. It had a tree to the extreme end of the image. I've never been able to find it since, but I'm fairly certain its the upper left image.

[chas]

Heritage Auction Galleries sold the Last Stand Cabinet Cards for $1245

[elisabeth]

Chas, those are just gorgeous.

I wonder if records remain of all the images. Wouldn't it be fabulous if someone could recreate that cyclorama?


P.S. A few more of the images are here:

tinyurl.com/hs9zh

(You have to scroll down a bit to get to them.)

[chas]

In 1888 the Boston Cyclorama Company produced an enormous painting of Custer's last fight. These cycloramas were usually 50 by 400 feet in size. Regrettably there is no record of the fate of this huge canvas as most were lost or destroyed. For those interested in "lost" history, the late historian and researcher, Brian Pohanka reported the discovery in the early 1980's of a fully detailed 1/10 scale 4 by 36 foot finished color study for the Custer cyclorama. It was described to be in very good condition as it had been in storage, rolled onto a wooden spindle for approximately 80 years. It was the custom of panorama painters to prepare an exact sketch to show to their superior for approval, or to potential sponsors as a preliminary exercise in scale and perspective. Painted in oil on heavy Belgian linen, the painting shows some minor cracking due to its being rolled up for many years. Otherwise it's remarkably finished for such preliminary work, as can be seen by comparing it to the only known complete set of twelve vintage silver photographs of the full-scale cyclorama, taken by an unknown photographer. The current owner wishes to sell the painting. My article, "The Custer Cyclorama, revisited" was published in Sept/Oct 2005 issue of Military Images Magazine. Richard Uptons book, Echoes of the Little Big Horn Series Volume 3, Cylorama of Gen. Custer's Last Stand, contains 12 images. However, the Smithsonian also has 10 images that contain all scenes. But neither collection has the ticket booth photograph recently sold at auction. That image was an interior view to the exhibition of nearly 100 items connected with the battle.

[elisabeth]

Thanks for the info. I must see if I can get hold of that magazine.

Excellent news about the preliminary study existing. Now, if only the owner sells it to someone who's prepared to exhibit it!

[chas]

On August 6 & 7, 1891, The Detroit Evening News and The Brooklyn Daily Eagle carried similar stories of General Custer's father at Detroit during the G.A.R. Silver Anniversary, as he viewed the picture of the battle where his son was killed. "A tall, venerable looking man stood upon the platform of the cyclorama of the battle of the Big Horn yesterday afternoon and gazed long and earnestly upon the canvas. The old man was feeble, and as he leaned upon the ropes for support the hot tears coursed each other down his furrowed (sic)cheeks. The other spectators in his vicinity eyed him with mixed looks of sympathy and curiosity. Presently a crowd of survivors of the Sixth cavalry, which was commanded by George A. Custer during the war, came up the stairs. Just as the cyclorama lecturer began to tell in his monotone how Custer, his brothers Tom and Boston and his brother in law, Lieutenant Calhoun, had been slaughtered at Big Horn by the Sioux, the old man turned to go as though the narrative had no special interest for him, when one of the veterans, seizing his hand, exclaimed: 'Why, old man, God bless you.' Then, turning to his comrades, he ejaculated: 'Boys, this is George A. Custer's father.' Instantly the white haired patriarch was surrounded by boys in blue, who fairly struggled for the privilege of grasping his hand. 'I was with your son,' said one, 'when he made the raid out of Winchester and broke through Early's line.' 'I was with him in the First cavalry,' said another, 'when Tom, his brother, was shot in the mouth.' 'I remember that engagement very well,' replied the old man: 'Tom brought the red necktie home that he wore on that day, and I've got it yet. The blood is on it still.' There were tears in the eyes of many of the crowd that saw General Custer's cavalry introducing themselves to the general's venerable father. The latter is now 84 years old." The Detroit Evening News published daily two column wide ads from August 23-30 announcing "Positively Last Chance Detroiters will have to see this Grand Work of Art, then vanished from public view.

[Scout]

chas...great stuff! Thanks for sharing it. If anyone has ever seen the Atlanta Cyclorama they can get an idea how large theses things were...and very popular in there day. There are pictures of a Battle of Shiloh cyclorama, but it to fade away and no one knows what happened to it. There were a number painted after the war. I think there was one of Chattanooga/Missionary Ridge as well. When I was young my aunt brought me a book that use to be sold at the Atlanta Cyclorama that had information on the artists and had photographs of the work in progress. As far as I know they no longer sell the book. A great deal were German artists that worked on these pieces and many worked on the others as well. There were up to 12 or fifteen artists working at one time. One specialized on the landscaping, another did the sky, some just painted the people. Anyway, A real interesting subject and great post.

The Atlanta Cyclorama was completely restored in the 1980's and looks incredible. If anyone has never seen one of these pieces it is well worth a trip to see. Wish we had the LBH one still around.

[chas]

Duing 1982, Gustav Berger of Berger Art Conservation, Inc., New York City had taken the lead in attempting to locate a buyer willing to restore and exhibit the scale Custer Last Stand painting. It was hoped that eventually those of us interested in the Indian Wars, the Little Big Horn fight and the 19th century military art, would be able to examine firsthand this sweeping version of a popular theme. Mr. Berger also lined the Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta, the only cyclorama in the world restored "in situ", while hanging. All previous panoramas were removed and the sections separated. This resulted in big losses, for example, in the Gettysburg Cyclorama, the entire sky was cut off when separtated sections could not be joined. On Nov 20, 2005 the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting closed to visitors as conservators began the next phase of a multi-year $9 million project to return the painting, as close as possible, to its original state. Conservation of the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting is the largest project of its kind ever undertaken in North America, according to a Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation press release .

[chas]

On June 7, 1891, The Detroit Sunday News, reported in a two column wide ad, "The Cyclorama was receiving the lion's share of patronage, the lowest attendance during the past seven days being 700. The Indian camp alongside the river, and the mountains surrounding it are very realistic, while the look of determination on the faces of the men, who realized they were making their last fight, leaves a deep impression upon the visitor". The Detroit Free Press advertisement on Wednesday, July 8 exalted the public to "Go and See It! Custer's Last Battle offers the coolest and best place for summer entertainment for Detroit people and visitors to the city. The Cyclorama is one of the coolest buildings in Detroit during the hot weather and Custer's Last Rally, as graphically depicted on the mammoth canvas, has a peculiar attraction for Michigan people. Custer was one of Michigan's heroes whose memory will last for all time, and the picture, besides being a splendid work of art, presents a historical picture of the greatest Indian massacre ever known. 25 CENTS ADMITS ALL - CHILDREN, 15 CENTS, Geo. S. Hill Manager".

[chas]

Owner, enjoying a studio view of the scale Custer Cyclorama canvas with only two or three areas of paint losses in the sky and background not exceeding 10 square inches on a painting of over 20,000 square inches. Regrettably, the NPS didn't express interest because lack of space and funding at the Battlefield Museum.