RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY CLASSIC SALTILLO SERAPE ONCE OWNED BY LIBBY AND GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER.

RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY CLASSIC SALTILLO SERAPE ONCE OWNED BY LIBBY AND GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. This is an excellent museum quality example of a very old & rare textile from Northern Mexico circa 1780-1825. Design consists of a large concentric diamond center on a vertical mosaic background with a small serrated diamond border. Blanket is constructed of finely woven native dyed wool on a cotton warp; the dyes include indigo & cochineal. These blankets were always highly valued by both Indians & Caucasians for their tremendous functional value & artistic beauty. Blankets were so tightly woven that they were almost waterproof and effectively used in both cold & wet environments. Reference in museum catalog, “The Saltillo Sarape”, prepared by the Santa Barbara museum of art in 1978 indicates, “In the course of the Mexican War, 1846-1848, many North American soldiers passing through Saltillo and the other Northern Mexican towns purchased serapes as mementos of their tour of duty in Mexico”. Elizabeth Custer in her book, Tenting on the Plains, states on pg. 107, “These blankets were valuable possessions. They were so pliable and perfectly water-proof, that they protected one from every storm. We had a pair, which we used through every subsequent campaign, and when the cold in Kansas and Dakota became almost unbearable, sometimes, after the long trial of a journey in the wagon, my husband used to say, ‘We will resort to extreme measures, Libby, and wrap you in the Mexican blankets.’ They were the warmest of all our wraps. Nothing seemed to fade them, and even when burnt with Tom’s cigarette ashes, or stuck through with the General’s spurs, they did not ravel, as do other fabrics. They have hung as portieres in my little home, and the design and coloring are so like the Persian rug on the floor…”. The serape was at one time purchased from the Custer estate by renowned Custer authority & collector, Lawrence A. Frost of Monroe, Michigan. Sometime before 1973 Mr. Frost apparently sold the serape, and in a letter dated Dec. 31, 1973 to “Dear Bettie (Libby) and Bob”. He provides some specific reference to this exact serape as extracted from some of Libby Custer’s letters. One letter dated July 17 (no year) reads, “My dear Clara (Libby’s other niece). (Is sending two Mexican blankets for her and Lulu) Since you are the oldest please take the longest and best…. We got these when we were in Texas not far from the Mexican border…neuritis takes the ‘nip’ out of me and I have constant suffering at night”. He also references another letter dated July 19th, (no year) (Ca. 1925-1930) “Dear Lulu- (Libby’s niece) (Libby encloses a check to have the Mexican blanket mended). I have valued them for they have many times wrapped the baby bunting up on many a march and cold nights sleeping in a tent or keeping out the rain and snow when I was in the traveling wagon on the march with your Uncle Autie”. This very serape indeed has small old repaired holes on either end of the serape, carefully done, and most certainly the repairs eluded to the letter to Lulu on July 19th in which she references a check “to have the Mexican blanket mended”. These small repaired holes appear to be the type that might have been suffered as a result of spur holes which Libby referenced in her book Tenting on the Plains (as noted above). This exact serape, along with a treasure trove of Custer memorabilia (most of which had been purchased from Dr. Lawrence Frost by the consignor), was sold at the former Brian Riba’s auction house in the summer of 1993. The Frost letter referencing Libby’s letter of July 17th & 19th was not discovered by the auction house until after the auction, at which time it was provided to the buyer. Most Custer related items offered for sale today are highly valued because of their historic association with the Custer name, but this offering is doubly important for its historic association and as a truly desirable & rare iconic textile of the Southwest. SIZE: Width 50″, length 99″. CONDITION: Very slightly frayed on top & bottom ends. Some old very small repairs and a few very small moth holes, but overall colors remain vibrant and blanket is in good to excellent condition. 4-56749 JK14 (35,000-45,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1303	$86,250.00	RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY CLASSIC SALTILLO SERAPE ONCE OWNED BY LIBBY AND GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. This is an excellent museum quality example of a very old & rare textile from Northern Mexico circa 1780-1825. Design consists of a large concentric diamond center on a vertical mosaic background with a small serrated diamond border. Blanket is constructed of finely woven native dyed wool on a cotton warp; the dyes include indigo & cochineal. These blankets were always highly valued by both Indians & Caucasians for their tremendous functional value & artistic beauty. Blankets were so tightly woven that they were almost waterproof and effectively used in both cold & wet environments. Reference in museum catalog, “The Saltillo Sarape”, prepared by the Santa Barbara museum of art in 1978 indicates, “In the course of the Mexican War, 1846-1848, many North American soldiers passing through Saltillo and the other Northern Mexican towns purchased serapes as mementos of their tour of duty in Mexico”. Elizabeth Custer in her book, Tenting on the Plains, states on pg. 107, “These blankets were valuable possessions. They were so pliable and perfectly water-proof, that they protected one from every storm. We had a pair, which we used through every subsequent campaign, and when the cold in Kansas and Dakota became almost unbearable, sometimes, after the long trial of a journey in the wagon, my husband used to say, ‘We will resort to extreme measures, Libby, and wrap you in the Mexican blankets.’ They were the warmest of all our wraps. Nothing seemed to fade them, and even when burnt with Tom’s cigarette ashes, or stuck through with the General’s spurs, they did not ravel, as do other fabrics. They have hung as portieres in my little home, and the design and coloring are so like the Persian rug on the floor…”. The serape was at one time purchased from the Custer estate by renowned Custer authority & collector, Lawrence A. Frost of Monroe, Michigan. Sometime before 1973 Mr. Frost apparently sold the serape, and in a letter dated Dec. 31, 1973 to “Dear Bettie (Libby) and Bob”. He provides some specific reference to this exact serape as extracted from some of Libby Custer’s letters. One letter dated July 17 (no year) reads, “My dear Clara (Libby’s other niece). (Is sending two Mexican blankets for her and Lulu) Since you are the oldest please take the longest and best…. We got these when we were in Texas not far from the Mexican border…neuritis takes the ‘nip’ out of me and I have constant suffering at night”. He also references another letter dated July 19th, (no year) (Ca. 1925-1930) “Dear Lulu- (Libby’s niece) (Libby encloses a check to have the Mexican blanket mended). I have valued them for they have many times wrapped the baby bunting up on many a march and cold nights sleeping in a tent or keeping out the rain and snow when I was in the traveling wagon on the march with your Uncle Autie”. This very serape indeed has small old repaired holes on either end of the serape, carefully done, and most certainly the repairs eluded to the letter to Lulu on July 19th in which she references a check “to have the Mexican blanket mended”. These small repaired holes appear to be the type that might have been suffered as a result of spur holes which Libby referenced in her book Tenting on the Plains (as noted above). This exact serape, along with a treasure trove of Custer memorabilia (most of which had been purchased from Dr. Lawrence Frost by the consignor), was sold at the former Brian Riba’s auction house in the summer of 1993. The Frost letter referencing Libby’s letter of July 17th & 19th was not discovered by the auction house until after the auction, at which time it was provided to the buyer. Most Custer related items offered for sale today are highly valued because of their historic association with the Custer name, but this offering is doubly important for its historic association and as a truly desirable & rare iconic textile of the Southwest. SIZE: Width 50″, length 99″. CONDITION: Very slightly frayed on top & bottom ends. Some old very small repairs and a few very small moth holes, but overall colors remain vibrant and blanket is in good to excellent condition. 4-56749 JK14 (35,000-45,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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