Freeman’s | Hindman Two-Day Auction Unveils America’s Past Through Rare Ephemera & Native Photography
Freeman’s | Hindman is pleased to announce American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, Including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography, taking place October 23–24 in our Cincinnati saleroom. This extraordinary offering comprises over 370 lots of rare, poignant, and historically significant material chronicling the American experience—from the Revolutionary War through the tumultuous reshaping of the Western frontier.
Lot 231 | Detail, GARDNER, Alexander (1821-1882), photographer. Indians on Visit to their "Great Father." Washington, DC, 23 February 1867 Estimate $20,000 – 30,000
“It is our honor to offer such an incredible assemblage of historical photography, manuscripts, flags, and artifacts—most notably the lifelong Native American photography collection of Larry Ness of Yankton, South Dakota," said Katie Horstman, Associate Vice President, Sr Specialist, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography. "The photographs speak to Ness’s deep admiration for the Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains region, telling their story through powerful images that begin in the latter half of the 19th century. These works, captured by some of the era’s most talented photographers—including A. Zeno Shindler, Alexander Gardner, Charles M. Bell, William Henry Jackson, and David F. Barry—offer a rare and moving visual record of a pivotal period in American history.”
Part I: American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography October 23, 2025 | Over 220 Lots
The first session of the auction offers a compelling survey of U.S. history, tracing the nation’s path from its founding to its defining conflicts and cultural evolution. Central themes include the advent of photography in 19th-century America, the Civil War, and the enduring legacy of Abraham Lincoln.
Among the many highlights is an exceptional Civil War archive identified to George O. Currier of the 17th Maine Infantry, including his firsthand account of the Battle of Gettysburg (Lot 60); a striking sixth plate daguerreotype of an early American photographer posed with his camera (Lot 107); and a rare sixth plate daguerreotype by pioneering photographer Robert Cornelius, depicting Philadelphia gentleman William Jenkins (Lot 108). Of particular historical and emotional weight is a preserved shirt fragment worn by Abraham Lincoln at the time of his assassination—an artifact that encapsulates the national trauma of 1865 (Lot 166).
Part II: The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography October 24, 2025 | Over 150 Photographs
The second session features a selection of the lifelong collection of Larry Ness of Yankton, South Dakota. Comprising over 150 rare photographs, this session provides a visual chronicle of Native American history on the Plains, including the encroachment of settlers in the post-Civil War West.
From stately studio portraits to candid views of camp life and haunting records of the aftermath of conflict, the Ness Collection offers an intimate portrayal of Native American leaders, warriors, and families during a pivotal era of forced cultural transformation.
Highlights include a monumental mammoth plate photograph by Alexander Gardner depicting Sioux delegates at the White House, taken during their 1867 visit with President Andrew Johnson (Lot 231); a group of 24 CDV portraits of Sioux leaders at the Red Cloud Agency in Wyoming (Lot 292); and a remarkable collection of stereoviews captured by S. J. Morrow during General Crook’s 1876 expedition (Lot 307).
“As I began collecting and researching Plains Indian art and artifacts like beadwork, quillwork, tools, and weaponry, I came upon published images of Plains Indians and soon found myself compelled to seek original photographs to enhance my collection,” Larry Ness reflected. What began with the discovery of a single arrowhead at age seven would become a lifelong endeavor to preserve and honor the legacy of the Plains peoples through photography.
The Ness Collection features the work of some of the 19th century’s most accomplished image-makers, including A. Zeno Shindler, Charles M. Bell, William Henry Jackson, and David F. Barry. The images, while rooted in their time, speak to broader themes of identity, survival, diplomacy, and resistance—narratives that remain vital today.
Additional Top Lots:
· Lot 209 | [GOLD RUSH]. LARKIN, Thomas O. (1802-1858) | Map of the Valley of the Sacramento including the Gold Region. Boston: J.H. Bufford & Co and T. Wiley Jr., ca 1848 Estimate: $20,000 – 30,000
· Lot 1 | [REVOLUTIONARY WAR -- CONTINENTAL CONGRESS] | Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress, Held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Philadelphia: William and Thomas Bradford, at the London Coffee House, 1774. Estimate: $10,000 – 15,000
· Lot 172 | [KENNEDY, John F. (1917-1963)]. Rocking chair used by President John F. Kennedy while staying at The Olympic Hotel during a visit to Seattle, Washington, November 1961. Estimate: $7,000 – 10,000
· Lot 119 | JACKSON, William Henry (1843-1942). Suite of 38 albumen photographs: Rocky Mountain Railroad Album, Steam and Steel Across the Great Divide, Silverton Colorado, Silverton Sultan, 1883. Estimate: $5,000 – 10,000
Sale Preview: Full Preview for American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, Including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography collection will be on view at 5030 Oaklawn Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45227.
Preview Dates: October 21-22 | 10 AM—4 PM October 23-24 | 8 AM—10 AM