Lot 70: MCKENNEY, THOMAS L., AND JAMES HALL. History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Philadelphia: D. Rice & A.N. Hart, 1855.

MCKENNEY, THOMAS L., AND JAMES HALL.
History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Philadelphia: D. Rice & A.N. Hart, 1855.
3 volumes. 8vo (259 x 165 mm). iv, 333; xvii, [1], 9-290; iv, 17-392 pp. Preface bound between title and table of contents vol 1. With 120 hand-colored lithographed plates by J.T. Bowen, most after Charles Bird King. Publisher's brown morocco, elaborately blocked in blind, spines lettered in gilt, glazed endpapers, edges gilt. A few stray marginal smudges but clean internally, imprint of a few plates shaved, minor rubbing to binding, spines a touch darkened.

Third octavo edition, an attractive example. The first octavo edition appeared in 1848-50, following the folio edition of 1836-1844. The plates (described by Howes as "the most colorful portraits of Indians ever executed") are from King's portraits in the Indian Gallery, Department of War, Washington, all of which were destroyed in the 1865 Smithsonian fire. Howes M 129; Sabin 43411.