History of the Indian Tribes of North America. Philadelphia: Rice, Rutter & Co., and A.N. Hart, 1855. 3 volumes. 8vo (264 x 170 mm). 121 hand-colored lithographed plates by J.T. Bowen, most after Charles Bird King. Period brown morocco, elaborately blocked in blind, spines lettered in gilt, glazed endpapers, edges gilt. Appreciable spotting to plates 1, 2 and 68, plate 65 in vol 2 "Mar-Ko-Me-Te" somewhat creased, plate 96 lightly soiled, plate 106 shaved with loss to the imprint, else very clean with colors fine and fresh; bindings with extremities scuffed.

A LATE OCTAVO EDITION, including the portrait of "Billy Bowlegs," "John Ross" as an older man, and "Red Bird" bound at the back of vol 2, with associated text. The plates are, generally, in excellent condition. This work was first published in this reduced format in 1850, 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, which were all destroyed in the 1865 Smithsonian fire. Howes M-129; Sabin 43411.