The Aboriginal Port Folio
James Otto Lewis, 1835-1838
Details
The Aboriginal Port Folio
James Otto Lewis, 1835-1838
LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). The Aboriginal Port Folio; or a Collection of Portraits of the most Celebrated Chiefs of the North American Indians (cover title). Philadelphia: Published by the Author, [May 1835 - 1838].
First edition, complete with all 80 plates and “famously rare” (Reese). "This was the first attempt made in the United States at a large scale work devoted to the American Indian. Lewis conceived the idea of a folio series of Indian portraits while accompanying Gov. Lewis Cass of Michigan on a tour of the Great Lakes in 1825-1827. He was not able to begin publication until 1835, when the work was advertised as ten parts, each with eight plates, issued in wrappers. The lithographers, George Lehman and Peter S. Duval, did a creditable job, but could not overcome the miserable execution of poor Lewis. Subscribers dropped away, and the last two parts are famously rare as a result … [It] is a pioneering work among such publications" (Stamped with a National Character). The last two parts are so much rarer, Reese surmises, because of the intervening appearance of the first part of McKenney & Hall’s North American Indian. “Two things probably happened: the public saw examples of McKenney and Hall’s superior work, and the lithographers were lured away by the prospect of a far larger project” (Lewis, p.25). Three of the plates in the final part are after artists other than Lewis: “Interior of a Sioux Lodge” by Peter Rindisbacher, “Buffaloe Hunt on the River Platte” by Titian Peale, and “Abraham Quarry, the last of the Nantucket Tribe aged 64” by Jerome Thompson.
Accompanying text was also planned but never realized. The only letterpress pages ever issued were three advertisement leaves in each of the first three parts, and a title page present in only two known copies. The title-page is dated 1838 suggesting that there was a huge two-year gap between the publication of the 9th part and the 10th part. The portrait of “Kee-Me-One or Rain” is in the first, undated state. America Pictured to the Life 54; Bennett p. 68; Field 936; Howes L-315 ("c"); Reese, James Otto Lewis and His Aboriginal Port Folio, New Haven 2008 (this copy illustrated on back cover); Stamped with a National Character, 23; Sabin 40812.
Folio (458 x 290 mm). Letterpress advertisement by Lewis for the first part only. 80 hand-colored lithographed plates after Lewis by Lehman & Duval (77) and by Duval (3), tissue guards (tissue guards spotted and/or creased, occasional mild spots to plates, nearly all marginal except for about 4 plates at end, from part 7, “Pe-Shick-Ee” plate toned, two plates with short marginal tears, some pale stains to “Pipe Dance” plate). One original lithographed upper wrapper on blue paper preserved. Contemporary half roan (spine perished, leather dry and worn, nearly disbound). Provenance: “von Hahn” (ownership inscription to front free endpaper).
James Otto Lewis, 1835-1838
LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). The Aboriginal Port Folio; or a Collection of Portraits of the most Celebrated Chiefs of the North American Indians (cover title). Philadelphia: Published by the Author, [May 1835 - 1838].
First edition, complete with all 80 plates and “famously rare” (Reese). "This was the first attempt made in the United States at a large scale work devoted to the American Indian. Lewis conceived the idea of a folio series of Indian portraits while accompanying Gov. Lewis Cass of Michigan on a tour of the Great Lakes in 1825-1827. He was not able to begin publication until 1835, when the work was advertised as ten parts, each with eight plates, issued in wrappers. The lithographers, George Lehman and Peter S. Duval, did a creditable job, but could not overcome the miserable execution of poor Lewis. Subscribers dropped away, and the last two parts are famously rare as a result … [It] is a pioneering work among such publications" (Stamped with a National Character). The last two parts are so much rarer, Reese surmises, because of the intervening appearance of the first part of McKenney & Hall’s North American Indian. “Two things probably happened: the public saw examples of McKenney and Hall’s superior work, and the lithographers were lured away by the prospect of a far larger project” (Lewis, p.25). Three of the plates in the final part are after artists other than Lewis: “Interior of a Sioux Lodge” by Peter Rindisbacher, “Buffaloe Hunt on the River Platte” by Titian Peale, and “Abraham Quarry, the last of the Nantucket Tribe aged 64” by Jerome Thompson.
Accompanying text was also planned but never realized. The only letterpress pages ever issued were three advertisement leaves in each of the first three parts, and a title page present in only two known copies. The title-page is dated 1838 suggesting that there was a huge two-year gap between the publication of the 9th part and the 10th part. The portrait of “Kee-Me-One or Rain” is in the first, undated state. America Pictured to the Life 54; Bennett p. 68; Field 936; Howes L-315 ("c"); Reese, James Otto Lewis and His Aboriginal Port Folio, New Haven 2008 (this copy illustrated on back cover); Stamped with a National Character, 23; Sabin 40812.
Folio (458 x 290 mm). Letterpress advertisement by Lewis for the first part only. 80 hand-colored lithographed plates after Lewis by Lehman & Duval (77) and by Duval (3), tissue guards (tissue guards spotted and/or creased, occasional mild spots to plates, nearly all marginal except for about 4 plates at end, from part 7, “Pe-Shick-Ee” plate toned, two plates with short marginal tears, some pale stains to “Pipe Dance” plate). One original lithographed upper wrapper on blue paper preserved. Contemporary half roan (spine perished, leather dry and worn, nearly disbound). Provenance: “von Hahn” (ownership inscription to front free endpaper).
榮譽呈獻
Christina Geiger
Head of Department