This stunningly beautiful, Cabinet Card Photograph was taken in 1887 by Elliott & Fry while Buffalo Bill’s Wild West was appearing in London on its European Tour. It measures approx. 4 1/8" by 5 3/4" and is mounted on its original card mount (overall size approx. 4 1/4" by 6 1/2"). The photograph is a 1/2 length portrait of the young and proud Sioux Warrior wearing traditional garb including a hair-pipe bone breast plate, a bone hair-pipe choker and elaborate bead or quill decorated war shirt. His braids are fur wrapped. Printed text on the mount below the Image reads "Flies Above / Chief of the Cut-Off Band of Sioux" and "Buffalo Bill's Wild West".

    "Flies-Above" was a Chief of the Kiyuksa Band of the Oglala Sioux people. He traveled internationally with Buffalo Bill Cody’s troupe, representing Native American leadership and culture alongside other notable figures like Chief Long Wolf and Chief Rocky Bear. His recollections and perspectives on Lakota culture and history have been referenced in historical ethnographies and texts recounting traditional 19th-century Plains Indian life.

    This very rare and very attractive, 19th century Western Americana / Wild West Show / Native American Sioux Cabinet Card Photograph is in excellent condition. The Photograph itself is clean and crisp and exhibits sharp focus, strong contrast and rich, warm tonality. The card mount is also clean and crisp with some very light edge wear only.

    An exceptionally rare and original 1887 Sioux Indian Chief Flies Above / Buffalo Bill's Wild West Cabinet Card Photograph and a fantastic addition to any collection!!

    Be sure to check out this seller’s other auctions for a number of other late 19th and early 20th century Civil War and Native American subject Photographs (including another Elliott & Fry Cabinet Card of a Sioux Indian Chief Performer) which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!!