Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man (circa 1831–1890) known for his steadfast opposition to the intrusion of the US government into Sioux lands. Fleeing to Canada following the Battle of Little Big Horn, he later returned to the US and toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Fearing his growing influence, government agents fatally shot him during an arrest attempt at Standing Rock Agency on December 15, 1890. Extremely rare ink signature, “Sitting Bull,” on an off-white 3.25 x 2 card. In very good condition, with some mild rippling, scattered light soiling, and light staining from adhesive residue on the reverse. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Sarah Edwards Walling, the daughter of the man who obtained the signature for her. Letter reads, in full, “Previous to or about 1890 a party of Indian Chiefs, Sitting Bull, Grey Eagle, Spotted Tail, Rain in the Face, and Crazy Horse with their interpreters went to Washington to see the Great Father, President Benjamin Harrison to right some wrongs in some business matters. During their stay in New York the Government boarded them at the 5th Avenue Hotel. There were a few Squaws in the party. All were on exhibition at the Eden Musee on 23rd St. N.Y. My father Capt Mills Edwards, mother and I went to see them. Sitting Bull was sitting at a table writing his autograph selling them at $2.00 each. My father bought this one, which I saw him write. I remember it perfectly.” A second letter also attests to the authenticity of the signature, "The above signature is an original actually made by the great Sioux medicine man himself in the presence of the undersigned who was at the time a young and interested child." Also accompanied by a glossy 8 x 10 photo suitable for framing.
After surrendering himself and his followers to US authorities in 1881, Sitting Bull was placed on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in what is now southern North Dakota, under the supervision of Indian Agent James McLaughlin. Cashing in on Americans’ fascination with ‘the Indian who killed Custer,’ as he was initially billed, McLaughlin set up the Sitting Bull Combination, which included the chief, seven other Indians, and two interpreters; the show opened in New York City at the Eden Musee to a crowd of thousands. Misled greatly by McLaughlin—who claimed that the proceeds from the show would go towards building schools on the reservation, and that the group would be meeting with the president to discuss important matters in developing peace between the tribes and settlers—the spectacle essentially just put the group on display as oddities, garnering great interest initially but fading quickly, causing the show to close just one month later. Six years later, McLaughlin would give the order to arrest Sitting Bull, sparking the bloody shootout that left the chief and several others dead. Though some of the details of the exhibit have been misremembered by the young recipient of this signature, the letter of provenance pinpoints a well-known event at the start of Sitting Bull’s touring career, dating this incredibly scarce signature to the year prior to his start with Buffalo Bill’s celebrated Wild West show. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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