Cantey Collection

Albumen cabinet photograph of Jim Kid. He was a star performer for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show in the 1880s and 1890s. He is wearing the metals he was rewarded for achievements as a  bucking horse rider. The image is signed by Kid himself and that is authenticated on the back of the mount. Photograph is by Anderson, NY. He was very famous in his venue and time.

This is an artfully done photograph of a man in a decorated buckskin or leather shirt. He has a black bandana around his next and tied in a bow. He is holding a single shot rife and wearing moccasins, and fringed pants. There is an identification on the back as "Capt. Jack Crawford" but I believe this is false. The image dates in the 1880-1890 period. 

Two cabinet photos I believe taken in the same session (although the mounts are a bit different). She is in the same dress, has the same shotgun belt, and has the same shotgun. Both are taken by H. J. Godfrey, Santa Cruz, Cal. One mount simply says Elite while the other says Elite Photo Studio. They may have been taken at the same time but published at different times as the mounts were changed. At any rate, she holds a double barrel shotgun and evidently was a wing shot, probably shooting clay pigeons or glass balls in exposition. She is not identified. Images date circa 1895-1905, my guess.
Few collectors showcase the ladies but they were some of the best riders and best shots with shotgun, rifle, and pistol in the Western show era. I like them very much and buy them when I can. They have an honored place on this site.

Here is another cabinet of the Indian that is next after this one. His Indian name is spelled phonically at the bottom and "Star".

Obviously staged cowboy cabinet card. Whoever the photographer was, he sure didn't know what a real cowboy looked like. What New Yorker ever did? He is wearing a cheap, checkered suite, has two Saturday Night specials in holsters (one turned BACKWARDS!), holding a .22 pump rifle, and wearing boots made more for a fireman than a cowboy. He is also wearing workman's gauntlets. Photo by R.G. Frank, Rochester, NY. Worth much less than most so don't pay much for these.