As a collector of rare books and first editions, defense attorney Bob Van Norman's tastes run more to mysteries, legal works and infamous killings, but once bitten, the lure of a rare book is hard to resist.

So taunting, in fact, that Van Norman paid $4,250 for a flimsy, soft-covered book at the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation's Old West Collectibles Auction on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Grossing $135,000, the collectibles auction was the best sale ever, according to auction co-chairman Win Bauer.

"It was a tremendous sale," foundation president Lynn Husman said.

Husman said the sale's success is a credit to Bauer, co-chairman Jay George and all the volunteers who help with the sale.

A bid of $4,700 for an F.A. Meanea saddle topped the auction. The saddle, dated from the 1890s, went to a California buyer, Bauer said.

Van Norman's purchase was the second-highest bid of the day.

Van Norman outlasted a Pennsylvania collector to take home a copy of "Famous Indian Chiefs," written by Ben Ely and published by Whitman Publishing Company.

Bauer is delighted that the Van Normans won the bidding war and kept the book in South Dakota.

"We'll probably never find another piece of history like it," he said.

Van Norman went to the auction interested in the book, but without a specific intention to take it home. He has a small collection of books and other Native American artifacts.

"Auctions are fun because you watch your own psychology as well as everybody else's," Van Norman said.

"Part of the motivation, other than being at the auction and in competition, was to keep it here (in South Dakota)," Van Norman said.

The book, filled with colorful illustrations of prominent Native American leaders, was printed in 1935. Copies of the book sell from $15 to $35 on www.alibris.com, a Web site frequented by book collectors.

Van Norman's copy is unique because it bears the thumbprints of three Native American men identified as being present at the Little Big Horn.

One of the thumbprints is identified as belonging to White Bull Calf, 85. Oral history and ledger art have identified him as the man who killed George Custer at the Little Big Horn. The others are identified as the prints of Red Paint, 83, and Little Killer, 89.

Van Norman's bid also included a copy of "The Warrior Who Killed Custer," the personal narrative of Joseph White Bull as translated by James Howard.

Since the auction, Van Norman has learned that Joseph White Bull was also called White Bull Calf.

For someone with a passion for a good mystery, Van Norman now has a puzzle of his own to solve - verifying the thumbprints of the three men and confirming Red Paint's and Little Killer's presence at the Little Big Horn.

"That's part of the fun," he said. "Life is a mystery story you try to figure it out, which is beautiful because it leads into so many things; you learn about people and where they were."

So far, neither name has surfaced on lists Van Norman has found of warriors at the Little Big Horn.

"I'll probably have to find some oral histories to confirm with regard to these other two individuals," he said.

Van Norman hopes he can locate historical records from the Pine Ridge Agency, where the men were living when the thumbprints were placed in the book.

Thumbprints were commonly used as a signature by Native Americans, who did not read or write, he said.

Van Norman has no immediate plans for his purchase, other than to continue his quest to learn more about the men who had a role in one of this nation's most historic events.

"I don't know what I'll do with it eventually," Van Norman said. "I'm more of a dabbler in this area."

Owning something with such a historic connection is an honor, Van Norman said.

"These were three very brave individuals who should have been viewed as fighting an uphill fight," he said. "This was their last victory when they were being overrun by fortune hunters."

The foundation is already fielding inquiries about the upcoming 2009 sale. For more information, contact Win Bauer at 456-2971 or email bauerdiana@hotmail.com or call Jay George at 343-5140.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com