Cantey Collection

Photograph circa 1886 of Henry N. Blake and his wife. Photograph taken by L.S. Hazeltine, Virginia City, Montana. It is signed on the back by him. I have compared signature to a letter I have signed by him on his stationary at the time. Blake was an Associate Justice of Montana Territory for four and 1/2 years appointed by President Grant serving from 1875 until 1885 .  He became the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court from 1889-1893.  He continued to be a prominent attorney in Virginia City before and after his service on the Territorial and State Supreme Court. He also worked as a newspaper editor of the MONTANA POST in early days prior to Supreme Court services. He died in 1935 at age 97 in Boston, Massachusetts.   I have the 1887 original of Blake's Virginia City License as an attorney. It is signed by George Gohn who was a butcher, member of the Madison County government and former member of the Montana Vigilantes in the 1860s.

Dated 1910, this larger sized cabinet image is of Buffalo Bill standing beside his wagon marked OFFICE and TICKET OFFICE. Photographer is Allen Duffield. No location noted. Image is light which is typical of photograph taken outside in those times.

Large cabinet photograph taken outside the tents of a Buffalo Bill Wild West Show circa 1900-1910. No photographer's marks, location, or cowboy IDs. 11 are sitting on their horse. 4 are dismounted and next to their horse that they have trained to lie down. Image is a bit light as common of images taken outside.

This is a very rare cabinet image to obtain of the outlaw Frank Rand. It has been published but rarely (if ever) become available in original form in ANY condition. I obtained it with the image of him after he killed himself in his cell. They were among other materials of documentation on him. This image was taken after his capture showing him photographed with an UNLOADED gun. He was allowed to do this in order to raise money for his defense.

George Alexander Bruffey was a Livingston, Montana rancher. He also owned a Fish Creek general store and was a Butte miner. He was also involved with the Fish Creek Stage Station. He wrote an autobiography, "Eighty-one Years in the West"in 1925.  He also served as the Fish Creek Post Master from 1876-1889. Elected to the State Legislature in 1896. In later life active in the Society of Montana Pioneers. He died in 1928.