About the author
Author Nancy Schaut and her husband Jim (a photographer) have been writing about antiques and collectibles, especially old cars and automotive memorabilia, since 1978. Hundreds of their articles have been published in collector-oriented magazines. The Schauts cover the Cowboy and Native American art scene, and have profiled talented artists and craftspersons. Nancy enjoys writing about historic travel locations in the American West and is currently working on a series of stories about the history behind our Western tourist railroads.

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Collecting the Old West

Horsin' Around: A Guide to Equine Memorabilia

American Automobilia: An Illustrated History and Price Guide

~ THE IMAGES OF THE OLD WEST ~

The Civil War was a turning point for American photography. Brady and other wartime photographers had recorded the death and destruction for posterity. These graphic photographs, primitive by today's standards, established a new era of communication through pictures. Photography became popular and almost commonplace and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The American West was being settled at an incredible rate and photographers touted its natural wonders, inhabitants and events through photographs, stereoviews and picture postcards. It is our good fortune that Western history was photographically recorded as it was happening, providing us with a fairly accurate account.

Today, vintage photographs are being collected with an enthusiasm often reserved for oil paintings and sculpture. They are, after all, an art form, and are sold and auctioned as such. Images of the Old West are available in many different forms. Photographs, of course, are the most common. Other ways to collect historical illustrations are through stereoview cards, real photo postcards and the carte de viste, a photographic calling card.

The most widely collected photographs are by well-know photographers. Ansel Adams, Edward S. Curtis, and E.E. Smith are just a few of the hundreds of photographers that worked throughout the West. Adams was known for his nature photographs, he captured the beauty of our National Parks. Edward S. Curtis is just one of the photographers famous for his depictions of Native Americans. His work attracted the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt and Curtis was commissioned to document the tribes and their cultures in his book, The North American Indian which was published in 1907. The current record price for this limited edition, twenty volume set was set in 1993 at auction when a set sold for $600,000.

There is no doubting the authenticity of photos by cowboy photographer E. E. Smith. Smith had worked on his uncles JCS ranch in Texas since the age of eight. Even then, he was inquisitive and a keen observer. When he reached adulthood, he continued working ranches in the Amarillo area while taking photographs of scenes from everyday ranch life. He sold his first photographs to illustrate a friend's story in the Saturday Evening Post in 1908. He went onto document the cowboy way in Texas, and at rodeo events throughout the West.

Any story about Western photographers would be less interesting without mention of C. S. Fly who captured on film the outlaws and lawmen of Tombstone in the Arizona territory. His subjects included the Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, Bat Masterson and even Geronimo.

Recent photos are also collectible, especially autographed images of movie and television cowboys and cowgirls. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, William Boyd and Hopalong Cassidy, and Gene Autry are the most sought after. There are a lot of fakes out there, so consult an expert before you overpay for autographed pictures.

A Carte de Viste, or a calling card that given to friends and family are collected, too. These photographic cards were popular at the turn of the century and were often collected in albums. Most sought after are those picturing famous Westerners, like Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley. These are, of course, much more valuable if they are autographed.

Western photographers were employed by the railroads to take pictures of scenic beauty along the right of way. These were often reproduced as stereoviews, to be enjoyed via a stereopticon or viewer. Stereoviews feature two photographs, mounted side by side on heavy cardboard. This is inserted into the viewer for a view of the scene. The Union Pacific Railroad website is worth a visit. They offer reproductions of some of the images by photographers like William Henry Jackson and C. R. Savage who recorded the meeting of the East and West railroad lines at Promentory.

Real photo postcards remain a bargain for anyone looking for Western images today. Whether they show cowboys, rodeo scenes, Native Americans, or cityscapes, photographic images on postcards can be found for as little as a dollar. Postcards with photographs by Ralph Doubleday, well-known for his photographs of rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. Look for action photos featuring bucking broncos with names like Five Minutes to Midnight, and riders like Tad Lucas, or Margie and Alice Greenough.

Many vintage photographs are being reprinted and, many are not identified as such. A glance at some of the online auctions reveals some poor quality, reproduced photos. Do deal with reputable sellers. Ask for references, and ask other collectors to recommend photograph and/or autograph dealers that they have dealt successfully with. If you are purchasing through an online auction, ask if there is a return policy if you are not satisfied with your purchase and email some of the buyers who have left feedback for that seller.

Old photographs don't have to be purchased at art auctions. They often turn up at garage and estate sales in albums, or in shoeboxes of old pictures. You might be surprised at what you can find close to home. Check with your local historical society. They sometimes offer reprints of photographs of locally significant sites and events. Have fun looking for vintage Western photos to feature in your collection. To quote a very well-known collector, Al Marwick, "The fun is in the search."

Copyright © 2000 Nancy Schaut. All rights reserved