I used to belong to the organization buying up land at the battle site and have about 30 books on the subject from Native American accounts (which were ignored at first) to troopers diaries, archeologist, 3 D topo map etc. I even did a diorama of Last Stand Hill in 1/72. It is unbelievable how many people worlwide are fascinated by this battle. One of these days (I don't think they have found it yet, but I have been out of the loop for awhile) when they find Reno's and Benteen's saddle dump, there will be alot of artifacts.

I also find it hard to believe that the guidon will go for that much, but as I stated, there is a big worlwide interest and there are alot of collectors with big bucks and if the guidon can be matched with one of the 5 companies operating in Custer's battalion so as to pinpoint the location on the battlefield, (or even if it was a flag of Benteen's or Reno's command) the value would go out the roof. As I recall though, company letters were not on the swallowtails at that time.

Philip Duer