Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio. Introduction by Harold McCracken. Chicago: Swallow Press Inc., 1970. Large folio (22 3/8 x 17 inches). 22 tinted lithographic plates (three color plates are missing as the original had 25), colored by hand and heightened with gum arabic, all after Catlin. Text stapled, plates unbound as issued, all with original black cloth portfolio, titled in gilt upon cover.
Edition limited to 1000 copies, this is number 862. based on Catlin's work of 1844 of his observations of Indian life on the Upper Missouri River, the present edition includes a facsimile of the original page, together with Catlin's preface to the reader and the descriptive text to accompany the plates.
An excellent facsimile of this invaluable pictorial record of a "truly lofty and noble race...A numerous nation of human beings...three-fourths of whose country has fallen into the possession of civilized man...twelve million of whose bodies have fattened the soil in the mean time; who have fallen victims to whiskey, the small-pox, and the bayonet" (Catlin Illustrations of the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians pp. 3-4). Catlin went on to summarize the Native American as an "honest, hospitable, faithful, brave, warlike, cruel, revengeful, relentless,-- yet honorable, contemplative and religious being". he saw no future for either their way of life or their very existence, and with these thoughts always at the back of his mind he worked, against time, and set himself a truly punishing schedule, to record what he saw. The record he left us is unique, both in its breadth and also in the sympathetic understanding that his images constantly demonstrate.
Prints are all in fine to very fine condition in stunning hand painted color and enclosed within original portfolio case. Please ask me any questions concerning list of plates, pictures, etc.