Christopher 'Kit' Carson travelled to Santa Fe with a caravan aged 16 and became a fur trapper in the West of America aged around 20.
Based on this experience, he was chosen by John C Fremont to be the latter's guide during his legendary 1842-3 expeditions toward California. Fremont, who is remembered for being an especially strong voice against slavery, wrote about the treks, making Carson famous.
Carson also played a part on the Unionist side in the American Civil War.
Accompanying James H Carleton as part of the California column, he was a key part of the expedition including the minor skirmishes against confederates and greater ones against revolting Indians - though Carson viewed Carleton as too harsh on defeated Indians.
The rare carte-de-visite photograph on offer as part of the currently auctioning Floyd E Risvold collection in New York shows a stern-looking Carson seated. But the signature is informal: Kit Carson.
 Guide and Unionist soldier Christopher 'Kit' Carson |
Whilst known to his acquaintances as Kit, Carson almost always signed himself 'C. Carson', so this iis a significant rarity. It is accompanied by a copy of the book The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson by DC Peters.
This month has seen two signed photos by Carson's contemporary, President Abraham Lincoln sell, with a rare example in which he is standing fetching $103,000.
Collectors will be interested to know that the document promoting James H Carleton for his Civil War mission, signed by Lincoln, is currently available.
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