Heading:
Author: Catlin, George
Title: Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians... Written during Eight Years' Travel amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, in 1832, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39
Place Published: London
Publisher:Published by the Author, at the Egyptian Hall
Date Published: 1841
Description:

2 volumes. viii, 264; viii, 266 pp. Illustrated with 309 engravings on 175 plates from the original paintings by Catlin, plus 3 engraved maps (1 folding). 24x15 cm (9½x6"), full black calf, raised bands, spine lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. Second edition.

Important study of the American Indians by artist and anthropologist George Catlin who visited 48 Indian tribes on his tour of the West and executed some 600 paintings. Letters and Notes includes hundreds of engravings which were reduced from the original paintings under Catlin's supervision. The text and illustrations portray all aspects of Indian life including life in their villages, games, dances, funerals, sudatories, religious ceremonies, buffalo hunting, etc., plus detailed descriptions and depictions of native dress and physiognomy. Howes C241; Wagner-Camp 84:4. With three attractive bookplates on each front paste-down (one is E.A. Abbey).

Catlin traveled through the West in the 1830's, painting portraits of Indians and recording their habitats, weapons, rituals, ceremonies, etc., creating during that decade an "Indian Gallery" of great renown. After taking the entire gallery to England, Catlin published his "Letters & Notes," using text from a series of articles he had written for the New York Commercial Advertiser from 1832 to 1837, and illustrating it with line-cut reductions of his original paintings.

Binding and gilt edges lightly rubbed, corners bumped, hinges starting but still tight; page edges toning, occasional foxing, affecting some plates; very good.