LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). [Aboriginal Port Folio. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1835-1836].

8 parts (of 10) bound in one volume, folio (450 x 283 mm). 63 hand-colored lithographed plates (of 80) comprising parts 1-8 (of 10, lacking 8 plates each from parts 9 and 10, and lacking the "Men-Dow-Min or the Corn" plate from part 2); 3 letterpress broadside prospectus "Advertisement" leaves for parts 1-3 [all issued]. (Tears crossing image of two plates repaired verso, a few plates with marginal losses repaired verso, a few plates with marginal tears occasionally repaired, some minor spotting). Contemporary half morocco gilt (rebacked preserving original spine, recornered and repaired. Provenance: Thaddeus P. Mott (1831-1894), Union Army soldier, member of the Egyptian and Turkish military forces (gift inscription, 7 December 1869).

FIRST EDITION recording the dress of the Potawatomi, Winnebago, Shawnee, Sioux, Miami, Fox, Iowa and other tribes at treaties of Prairie du Chien, Fort Wayne, Fond du Lac and Green Bay, scarcer than Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio, Maximilian's Reise in das Innere von Nord-America or McKenney and Hall's History of the Indian Tribes. Publication was costly, and the work was intended to be issued in 10 parts each comprising 8 plates issued in printed wrappers. The publisher's bankruptcy during the printing of part 9 caused the edition to be reduced; part 10 was barely finished and sparsely distributed. An 11th part would have contained "Historical and Biographical Description of the Indians," but it was never published. The title (not present here) and three advertisement leaves complete the only text in the work, excluding text on the wrappers. Copies are most commonly found with 72 plates, rarely with 77, and very occasionally with 80. Field 936; Howes L-315; Reese Stamped with a National Character 23; Sabin 40812.

Property from the Estate of Sportscaster Chris Schenkel, Lake Tippecanoe, Indiana

LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). [Aboriginal Port Folio. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1835-1836].

LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). [Aboriginal Port Folio. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1835-1836].