McKenney, Thomas L. & Hall, James "The Indian Tribes of North America with Biographical Sketches… a New Edition, edited by Frederick Webb Hodge. 1933-4."

Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall.  The Indian Tribes of North America with Biographical Sketches… a New Edition, edited by Frederick Webb Hodge.  

Edinburgh: John Grant, 1933-1934.  Large octavo.  Three volumes.  Edition-de-Luxe printed on cotton rag paper limited to 200 copies.  Volume 1: 5/200; Volume 2: 6/200; Volume 3: 4/200.  In publisher’s original navy blue cloth with partial red leather on spine with gilt lettering.  With bookplate of Charles A. Barrett in Volume 1.  Some wear and rubbing on leather spine.  Else, very good condition. 

An early 20^th century reproduction of McKenney and Hall’s The Indian Tribes of North America which was originally issued between 1837-44.  This three volume set illustrates and describes this famous series  of Native American portraits which contains one hundred and twenty three full page color screen printed plates, two folding color maps, and two photogravure portraits of Thomas McKenney and James Hall.   

The Indian Tribes of North America documents an important part of American history, the great leaders of the Indian nations that have disappeared since the mid-19th century.  Thomas McKenney, head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years, was a champion of the Native American and fought throughout his tenure to preserve something of their culture, so integral a part of the history of the United States.  His legacy was a gallery of portraits of the great chiefs for which he commissioned artists such as James Otto Lewis, Charles Bird King, and George Cooke.