A favorite image from this work lithographed after a painting by Peter Rindisbacher.

Colonel Thomas L McKenney served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive Presidents: Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson. During the course of that time he became the most knowledgeable white man about the Native Americans, their history and their customs. At a time when men of color were still enslaved in America, he also became an advocate for their human rights.

When McKenney began his job, very little was known about the native inhabitants of the land. McKenney”s work caused him to travel 7,000 miles along the western frontiers and he became determined to preserve a record of what he saw there. He persuaded the Department of War to make portraits of all of the Indian chieftans and their wives when treaty negotiations or other business brought them to Washington. These paintings formed the basis of the first museum in Washington; the Archives of the American Indian. President Jackson’s policies regarding Indian removal brought him into conflict with McKenney and McKenney was dismissed from his government position. This gave him time to realize his dream of producing an illustrated record of the Indians. He several skilled Philadelphia lithographers to make lithographs based upon the portraits,and Thomas Hall, a well known writer on the American West, to verify his information and help him to write the text. The magnificent resulting work, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, contained 120 beautifully detailed and laboriously hand colored lithographs which provide an unparalleled ethnographic record.

18 x 16 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Good good condition save some mottling of background.

McKenney, Thomas L. and Hall, James. History of the Indian Tribes of North America; with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principal Chiefs. Philadelphia, 1836-44.

Colonel Thomas L McKenney served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive Presidents: Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson. During the course of that time he became the most knowledgeable white man about the Native Americans, their history and their customs. At a time when men of color were still enslaved in America, he also became an advocate for their human rights.

When McKenney began his job, very little was known about the native inhabitants of the land. McKenney”s work caused him to travel 7,000 miles along the western frontiers and he became determined to preserve a record of what he saw there. He persuaded the Department of War to make portraits of all of the Indian chieftans and their wives when treaty negotiations or other business brought them to Washington. These paintings formed the basis of the first museum in Washington; the Archives of the American Indian. President Jackson”s policies regarding Indian removal brought him into conflict with McKenney and McKenney was dismissed from his government position. This gave him time to realize his dream of producing an illustrated record of the Indians. He hired skilled Philadelphia lithographers, to make lithographs based upon the portraits,and Thomas Hall, a well known writer on the American West, to verify his information and help him to write the text. The magnificent resulting work, History of the Indian Tribes of North America”, contained 120 beautifully detailed and laboriously hand colored lithographs which provide an unparalleled ethnographic record.

20 x 14 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Professionally conserved to very good condition with tiny losses and several tears in far margins.

One of the most significant 19th century American publications was The History of the Indian Tribes of North America. The work was compiled by Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive presidents. During his tenure, McKenney developed a keen interest in the customs, habits and beliefs of the North America Indian. While tribal delegations visited Washington to make treaties with the “White Chief,” McKenney decided to memorialize each visitor with a portrait. These portraits were painted by Charles Bird King, the popular high society Washington portrait artist. The paintings hung in the Smithsonian for a period of 40 years until tragically they were lost in the Smithsonian fire of 1865. Fortunately for us, McKenney had teamed up with James Hall, a frontier lawyer and author, and together they published a two volume work containing lithographed illustrations with descriptive text of each painting. Today, these lithographed portraits serve as our only remaining record of the event.
This lithograph is from an early edition of the famous and popular octavo work.

10 x 6 3/4 inches sheet.
Lithograph with full original color.
Minor evidence of handling.

One of the most significant 19th century American publications was
The History of the Indian Tribes of North America
.  The work was compiled by Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive presidents.  During his tenure, McKenney developed a keen interest in the customs, habits and beliefs of the North America Indian.  While tribal delegations visited Washington to make treaties with the “White Chief,” McKenney decided to memorialize each visitor with a portrait. These portraits were painted by Charles Bird King, the popular high society Washington portrait artist.  The paintings hung in the Smithsonian for a period of 40 years until tragically they were lost in the Smithsonian fire of 1865.  Fortunately for us, McKenney had teamed up with James Hall, a frontier lawyer and author, and together they published a two volume work containing lithographed illustrations with descriptive text of each painting.  Today, these lithographed portraits serve as our only remaining record of the event.
This lithograph is from an early edition of the famous and popular octavo work.
10 x 6 3/4 inches sheet.
Lithograph with full original color.
Minor evidence of handling.

Colonel Thomas L McKenney served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive Presidents: Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson. During the course of that time he became the most knowledgeable white man about the Native Americans, their history and their customs. At a time when men of color were still enslaved in America, he also became an advocate for their human rights.

When McKenney began his job, very little was known about the native inhabitants of the land. McKenney”s work caused him to travel 7,000 miles along the western frontiers and he became determined to preserve a record of what he saw there. He persuaded the Department of War to make portraits of all of the Indian chieftans and their wives when treaty negotiations or other business brought them to Washington. These paintings formed the basis of the first museum in Washington; the Archives of the American Indian. President Jackson’s policies regarding Indian removal brought him into conflict with McKenney and McKenney was dismissed from his government position. This gave him time to realize his dream of producing an illustrated record of the Indians. He several skilled Philadelphia lithographers to make lithographs based upon the portraits,and Thomas Hall, a well known writer on the American West, to verify his information and help him to write the text. The magnificent resulting work, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, contained 120 beautifully detailed and laboriously hand colored lithographs which provide an unparalleled ethnographic record.

20 x 14 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Very good good condition save some mottling of background.

Colonel Thomas L McKenney served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive Presidents: Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson. During the course of that time he became the most knowledgeable white man about the Native Americans, their history and their customs. At a time when men of color were still enslaved in America, he also became an advocate for their human rights.
When McKenney began his job, very little was known about the native inhabitants of the land. McKenney”s work caused him to  travel 7,000 miles along the western frontiers and he became determined to preserve a record of what he saw there. He persuaded the Department of War to make portraits of all of the Indian chieftans and their wives when treaty negotiations or other business brought them to Washington. These paintings formed the basis of the first museum in Washington; the Archives of the American Indian.  President Jackson’s policies regarding Indian removal brought him into conflict with McKenney and McKenney was dismissed from his government position. This gave him time to realize his dream of producing an illustrated record of the Indians.  He several skilled Philadelphia lithographers to make lithographs based upon the portraits,and Thomas Hall, a well known writer on the American West, to verify his information and help him to write the text. The magnificent resulting work,
History of the Indian Tribes of North America
, contained 120 beautifully detailed and laboriously hand colored lithographs which provide an unparalleled ethnographic record.
20 x 14 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Very good good condition save some mottling of background.

One of the most significant 19th century American publications was The History of the Indian Tribes of North America. The work was compiled by Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive presidents. During his tenure, McKenney developed a keen interest in the customs, habits and beliefs of the North America Indian. While tribal delegations visited Washington to make treaties with the “White Chief,” McKenney decided to memorialize each visitor with a portrait. These portraits were painted by Charles Bird King, the popular high society Washington portrait artist. The paintings hung in the Smithsonian for a period of 40 years until tragically they were lost in the Smithsonian fire of 1865. Fortunately for us, McKenney had teamed up with James Hall, a frontier lawyer and author, and together they published a two volume work containing lithographed illustrations with descriptive text of each painting. Today, these lithographed portraits serve as our only remaining record of the event.
This lithograph is from an early edition of the famous and popular octavo work.

10 x 6 3/4 inches sheet.
Lithograph with full original color.
Overall patina.

Colonel Thomas L McKenney served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive Presidents: Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson. During the course of that time he became the most knowledgeable white man about the Native Americans, their history and their customs. At a time when men of color were still enslaved in America, he also became an advocate for their human rights.

When McKenney began his job, very little was known about the native inhabitants of the land. McKenney”s work caused him to travel 7,000 miles along the western frontiers and he became determined to preserve a record of what he saw there. He persuaded the Department of War to make portraits of all of the Indian chieftans and their wives when treaty negotiations or other business brought them to Washington. These paintings formed the basis of the first museum in Washington; the Archives of the American Indian. President Jackson’s policies regarding Indian removal brought him into conflict with McKenney and McKenney was dismissed from his government position. This gave him time to realize his dream of producing an illustrated record of the Indians. He several skilled Philadelphia lithographers to make lithographs based upon the portraits,and Thomas Hall, a well known writer on the American West, to verify his information and help him to write the text. The magnificent resulting work, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, contained 120 beautifully detailed and laboriously hand colored lithographs which provide an unparalleled ethnographic record.

20 x 14 inches, sheet.
Hand colored lithograph.
Very good condition

One of the most significant 19th century American publications was the
History of the Indian Tribes of North America
.  The work was compiled by Thomas McKenney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs under four consecutive presidents.  During his tenure, McKenney developed a keen interest in the customs, habits and beliefs of the North America Indian.  While tribal delegations visited Washington to make treaties with the “White Chief,” McKenney decided to memorialize each visitor with a portrait. These portraits were painted by Charles Bird King, the popular high society Washington portrait artist.  The paintings hung in the Smithsonian for a period of 40 years until tragically they were lost in the Smithsonian fire of 1865.  Fortunately for us, McKenney had teamed up with James Hall, a frontier lawyer and author, and together they published a two volume work containing lithographed illustrations with descriptive text of each painting.  Today, these lithographed portraits serve as our only remaining record of the event.
This lithograph is from an early edition of the famous and popular octavo work.

10 x 6 3/4 inches sheet.
Lithograph with full original color.
Minor evidence of Handling.