ANNIE "LITTLE SURE SHOT" OAKLEY - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH 1919 - HFSID 314409

ANNIE OAKLEY
Out of character but not out of extravagance, the "sure-shot" poses in an extraordinary "Indian Princess" garb, hand-made with the feathers of her prized kills for a Valentine's Day Masquerade. Winning the costume contest that night, Oakley again demonstrates versatility and creative ingenuity, and this rare and exclusive photo captures it all. Signed and dated in her script, with pencil note in her hand on verso. This whimsical photo, not shot for publicity, was probably gifted to a family member or dear friend. Extremely Rare!
Photograph signed in ink: "Annie Oakley 1919", and in pencil on verso: "Pinehurst 1919". Sepia, 3½x6. Shown in elaborate Indian costume with feathered head dress, gazing at the horizon.Annie Oakley (1860-1926) was born Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee in Ohio. She was the sixth of eight children. At the age of nine she began to shoot rabbits and quail and was almost a dead shot from the first. Within five years, she was a breadwinner for her family as a markswoman. In 1876, at age 16, she married Frank Butler, a vaudeville performer who became her partner. Annie's self-effacing personality (on and off stage) made her a popular performer. In 1885, the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Annie, a star with the show for 17 years, charmed Kings and Queens. In 1901, she was severely injured in a railroad wreck that temporarily paralyzed her. But she made a sensational comeback in the next two decades. She and Butler were childless, but she supported 18 orphan girls. For several seasons, Oakley and Butler were the club shooting professionals and resident celebrities at the Carolina Hotel, a post winter resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Entertainments offered by the Carolina included masquerade balls. This unusual and whimsical photo, intended for private use, shows Annie as an "Indian princess" at a Valentine's Day ball in February 1919. She fashioned the gown and decorated it (and herself) with pheasant feathers, trophies of her frequent bird-hunting outings. Whether because of the costume itself or simply Oakley's popularity, she won the evening's prize for best costume. Toned. Ink smudges in date of signature, but legible. Otherwise, fine condition.