John Wayne's personally owned circa 1833 officer’s kepi that was used during the production of the 1948 John Ford Western film Fort Apache. Made by the Boston-based company Bent and Bush, the kepi features gold bullion wire crossed rifles above a “2,” with a black leather strap with gold-tone “Mass Volunteer Militia” buttons to either side. In fine condition, with light overall wear.



Accompanied by a handwritten letter of provenance from Wayne’s granddaughter, Anita LaCava Swift, who states: “This cap came from the private collection of my grandfather. It is from the movie Fort Apache that my grandfather and Henry Fonda starred in, directed by John Ford, made in 1948. John Ford Believed in using costumes that were authentic, this cap is from a company that made military uniforms, Bent & Bush in Boston. It is circa 1833.” Includes a photo of Swift wearing the cap, as well as a modern photo of Wayne during a publicity shoot for Fort Apache, which depicts him in his military uniform holding a kepi in his right hand.