GERONIMO PISTOL HAND COLORED, IRWIN. FROM FAMILY

10" x 8" gelatin silver print, attractively hand colored. This is one of the great portraits of Geronimo, titled in the print "Chief of the notorious Band of Arizona Apaches/ Photo by Irwin 1897." This shows his bellicose side, as he holds the pistol in his cartridge belt. It is a strong artistic portrait, especially as attractively colored like this, with the shadow of his horned headpiece on the haystack behind.

This came down from Irwin's family. A pen inscription on verso reads: "W. E. Irwin was Joyce Estes Allen's great uncle…. " And then, in another hand: "W. E. Irwin paid $20.00 in Gold to take this picture on the Reservation in Okla. All Apaches believed when a picture faded they would die so at that time it was quite a feat…."

The print had several tears that have been expertly repaired by professional conservation.