Rare Geronimo Signature to be Offered by Heritage!

Dallas, Texas: Heritage-Slater Americana (HSA) will offer a stunning signed full-length portrait of legendary Native American leader Geronimo in their upcoming auction, to be held April 13, 2005 in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"This is an incredible piece," said Tom Slater, Director of HSA. "This beautiful sepia cabinet card photo shows the best known of all the Apache leaders, Geronimo (1829-1909), or Goyathlay ("one who yawns") - the name Geronimo was apparently given to him by Mexican soldiers for reasons that are lost to history - in Western wear, leaning against a log. In fine condition, the photo is signed in pencil on the mount beneath the image. The photo is accompanied by over a dozen pages of authenticating files, including a notarized letter from the former owner explaining provenance."

"A legendary figure of the Old West," Slater continued, "Geronimo forcibly resisted the internment of 4000 of his people on a reservation at San Carlos, subsequently surrendering and then escaping from white control on several occasions. In 1886, the local US commander promised him exile in Florida and a return to Arizona if he surrendered. The promise was not kept, and he and his followers were put to hard labor. He died in Oklahoma as a prisoner of war in 1909."

"Among autograph aficionados," Slater added, "Geronimo's is one of the most sought-after Old West signatures. The distinctive, almost child-like block- letter style combines with scarcity and Geronimo's mythic stature to create a strong demand for his signature. When Geronimo's autographs do appear on the market, they are usually on plain cards or slips of paper. To have his signature with a fine photographic image is many times more desirable, especially with such exhaustively documented provenance."

The signed Geronimo photograph bears a pre-auction estimate of $12-18,000.

For more information about Heritage-Slater Americana auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageAmericana.com. Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941.

Potential consignors are invited to contact Tom Slater, TomS@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 441 or contact John Hickey at JohnH@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 264.

To purchase a catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell, at 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX., 75219.