American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Three pennants attached to bamboo cane. Largest pennant, 17 x 8 in. mounted and framed,41 x 28 in. (some rubbing). Provenance: Previously sold Heritage Auction Galleries 25 August 2018, sale 6183 lot 43363; Edward C. Gillette Collection. 

The first Buffalo Bill's Wild West show took place outside of North Platte, Nebraska in 1883, organized by American soldier and bison hunter William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The show was a great success and quickly became one of the most popular of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with such performers as Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, Sitting Bull, and others prominently featured. In 1908 Buffalo Bill joined forces with Pawnee Bill to form the Two Bills show. The first pennant dates from the show's first year, while the second dates from 1910, shortly before the show was foreclosed upon. The third likely dates from shortly before the Two Bills show was formed and is clearly unofficial, as "Wild West Show" was never used on Cody-approved materials.