Description
History of the Indian Tribes of North America by Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall, published in 1978 by Volair Limited.
Octavo, [two volumes], xxviii, [4], 470pp, [4]; vii, [3], 534pp, [8]. Publisher’s full calf, decoratively stamped in gilt on covers. Title in gilt on spines, raised bands. All edges gilt, silk bookmark in each volume. The text of the Volair Edition follows the first octavo edition, published by J.T. Bowen (1848-1850).
The Volair Edition was edited by Barry L. Kessel, Philip R. St. Clair, and Murray R. Bowes. Housed in the publisher’s matching cloth slipcase, light shelf wear to side panels, solid hinges.
Considered one of the most important collections of Native American imagery ever compiled, History of the Indian Tribes of North America was the life work of Colonel Thomas McKenney. This work was originally published in 20 folio parts between 1836 and 1844. The first octavo edition was published in 1848-1850. Several additional octavo editions were published into the 1870s, all of which are highly desirable today. In 1865, the year the three-volume set appeared, a fire at the Smithsonian destroyed most of the original portraits by Charles Bird King, thus making this work the only record of the likenesses of many of these Indian leaders.
