1915 "The Oldest Man of Nootka"
Updated August 7, 2026
| Lot number | 3032 |
| Estimate | 20.00 - 150.00 USD |
| Auction | Coin, Stamp, Collectables and More 29 |
| Date | August 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM CDT |
| Auction house | Featherznest |
| Location | Grapevine, Arkansas |
It is a powerful close-up portrait of an elderly Nootka (Nuu-chah-nulth) man from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, captured in 1915. Curtis described him as one of the most "primitive" remaining figures in the village, emphasizing his weathered features and traditional appearance. The intimate, direct gaze and dramatic lighting make it one of Curtis’s most striking and character-driven portraits.Your print measures 8 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches, the standard smaller-format sepia-toned photogravure size from the portfolios/supplementary volumes.Market Value (2025–2026 estimates)Consistent with the other same-size Curtis photogravures in your collection:Modern reproductions/giclées: $20–$150.Vintage/period photogravures (like yours): $600–$2,000+ in good condition. This iconic, characterful portrait (a favorite among collectors for its emotional intensity) often sells in the $800–$1,600 range for clean examples with full margins.
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More lots in this auction
- Edward S. Curtis – “Washing Wheat – San Juan,”
- 1927 "Woman and Child – Nunivak" Curtis
- Edward S. Curtis – “A Load of Fuel – Zuni,” 1903
- Edward S. Curtis – “A Feast Day at Acoma,” 1904
- 1924 "Coast Pomo Woman," "Aged Pomo Woman,"
- 1911 "Wishham Girl" Curtis photogravures
- Edward S. Curtis – “Acoma from the South,” 1904
- 1908 "Wolf - Apsaroke" Edward S. Curtis