Celebrated American markswoman. She developed an amazing proficiency with firearms early on. As a child she hunted game with such success that she was able to sell enough game to pay off the mortgage on the family farm in Ohio. When she was fifteen she won a shooting match in Cincinnati with Frank E. Butler, a vaudeville marksman; several years later they were married. For seventeen years she was one of the star attractions of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. She never failed to delight her audiences. Her feats of marksmanship were incredible. At 30 paces she could split a playing card held edge-on, and once while performing in Berlin, she shot a cigarette from the lips of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Vintage original 4 x 5.5 photo, affixed to the original 6 x 9 photographer’s mount, of Oakley aiming her pump rifle, by White Studios of New York, signed on the mount in fountain pen, “Yours sincerely, Annie Oakley.” In very good condition, with a bit of light silvering to dark areas, tack hole to each side of mount, as well as some scattered light soiling and ink marks, all of which could be matted out. Impressive signature and outstanding image, only the third Oakley signed photo we have ever had. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
