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Auction Specialist
Lot 243
Sale 6285 - Books and Manuscripts
Mar 27, 2025
10:00AM ET
Live / Philadelphia
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Estimate
$3,000 -
5,000
Price Realized
$5,760
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[Native-Americana] Curtis, Edward S. The North American Indian...
(Cambridge, Massachusetts), 1913. Ninth text volume only, #437 of a proposed 500 numbered copies. 4to. Illustrated with a sepia-toned photogravure frontispiece and 74 photogravure plates on Japan vellum; each with tissue guard. Publisher's three-quarter brown levant over tan linen-covered boards, stamped in gilt, author label on spine possibly replaced; top edge gilt, other edges trimmed; by H. Blackwell; in matching three-quarter niger solander box. Howes C-965
A near-fine copy of the ninth volume of Edward S. Curtis's famed North American Indian, covering the tribes of the Northwestern United States, including the Salishan, Chimakum, Quilliute, Willapa, and others. This example on the preferred and scarce Japan Vellum (40 were issued on the very rare Japan tissue, and an unknown number issued on Van Gelder paper). Published between 1907-1930, Curtis's work reached 20 text volumes and 20 plate volumes, with over 2,000 photogravures. While 500 sets were proposed, only around 272 were ever produced. During the production of this volume, Curtis's benefactor, J. Pierpont Morgan, passed away, for which a dedication was included at front.
Lot includes a set of the complete unbound text leaves (without plates) of Vol. 19 (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1930). 270 pp., on Japan vellum. Out-of-series copy.
Lot also includes the printed prospectus for discounted sets of The North American Indian (Boston: Charles E. Lauriat Co., 1935), comprised of tri-fold printed prospectus, two photogravures on paper, and the original mailing envelope.



