Swann Galleries - Autographs - Sale 2413

“THE INDIAN ONTHE BUFFALO NICKEL”

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TWO GUNSWHITE CALF. Photograph postcard Signed with his pictogram, bust

portrait by Hileman, showing him in profile. Signed in the image, lower right. The verso,

inscribed with a note [by a park visitor] to a friend: “This is the Indian on the Buffalo

Nickel, and I had him autograph this card for your

are having a fine trip.” 1-

cent Benjamin Franklin stamp at upper right is cancelled with a postmark dated from

Yellowstone National Park on August 29, 1929. 5

inches; few dents affecting head,

minor scattered soiling, some silvering to dark areas, plastic lamination overall verso.

[Glacier National Park, MT, 1929]

[800/1,200]

The “Buffalo Nickel,” which featured the profiles of a Native American head on one side and a

buffalo on the other, was in circulation between 1913 and 1938. Upon the coin’s release, publi-

cists for the new hotel at Glacier National Park in Montana saw a striking similarity between

the head of Two Guns White Calf and the head rendered on the nickel.The publicists claimed

that Two Guns White Calf had been a model for the coin and employed him as a Park attrac-

tion, but there arose some controversy about whose portrait appeared on the nickel. Since the

coin’s designer, James Earle Fraser, could not recall all the models used for the design, the publi-

cists could not be contradicted in their claim.

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WOLCOTT, OLIVER; JR. Autograph Letter Signed,“Oliv:Wolcott,” to PA lawyer

and President of the Academy of Fine Arts Joseph Hopkinson, concerning a request that a

work of art depicting Cupid be duplicated at the Academy of Fine Arts, including some

joking about Cupid’s desirability among the ladies. 2 pages, 4to, written on the recto and

verso of a single sheet, with detached address leaf; separation at vertical fold (touching sig-

nature with minor loss) repaired verso with tissue, minor bleedthrough, toning at edges.

NewYork, 23 March 1811

[400/600]

“

. . . It seems that Cupid is much admired by the Ladies of NewYork, several of whom have

requested that his Godship may be permitted to visit their apartments, for the purpose of being

copied; . . . [I]f such . . . should be permitted, very many & very important Copies would be

taken, but . . . the divine original itself, would soon . . . be the worse for wear . . . .”