Bidspirit auction | A Pair of Thad Sowder

A Pair of Thad Sowder Rough Rider Cigar Label Proof Prints - A pair of antique monochromatic photographic print posters, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, featuring the Western figure Thad Sowder. These items are contextualized as potential cigar label proofs from F.M. Howell, Elmira, NY. Both prints feature an identical portrait of the subject seated in full cowboy attire, including a wide-brimmed hat, bandana, and heavy wooly chaps. The image is contained within a printed gold-toned sawtooth border. Prominent text reads THAD SOWDER, with fine print below identifying the subject further as M.T. SOWDER, ROUGH RIDER, CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. CHEYENNE WYO. The larger of the two prints retains wide margins and features additional handwritten ink notations, reading Cheyenne Ag. Fact Cheyenne Wyo., suggesting a possible use or location for the advertisement. The prints are executed on cream-toned paper stock.