With rare original wrapper and ads
Aboriginal Portfolio, 1835-36
LEWIS, James O. (1799-1858). Aboriginal Portfolio. Philadelphia: J. O. Lewis, 1835-1836.

The first edition, containing 72 hand-colored portraits, an original wrapper and three advertisements. Scarcer than McKenney and Hall's History of the Indian Tribes, Maximilian's Reise in das Innere von Nord-America, or Catlin's North American Indian Portfolio, Lewis's work records the dress of the Potawatomi, Winnebago, Shawnee, Sioux, Miami, Fox, Iowa and other tribes at treaties of Prairie du Chien, Fort Wayne, Fond du Lac and Green Bay. The costly and time-consuming publication was originally issued in 10 parts with 8 plates per number in printed wrappers. The publisher was forced into bankruptcy while part nine was in the press, however, reducing the edition and forcing part ten to be just barely finished and sparsely distributed. A projected eleventh part would have contained "Historical and Biographical Description of the Indians," but was never completed. Copies with more plates are scarce; most have 72, as here. Howes L-315; Sabin 40812.

Folio (480 x 285mm). 72 hand-colored lithographed plates (with lithographed wrapper on blue paper and three ads; minor spotting). Calf gilt (rebacked, preserving original spine); custom box. Provenance: Edwin Stanton Fickes (bookplate).