McKenney & Hall Folio

These marvelous hand colored lithographs, which are approximately 160+ years old, are from the folio size edition of Thomas McKenney & James Hall`s monumentalwork "History of the Indian Tribes of North America, with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principal Chiefs...." published in Philadelphia in 1838- 44.

This is one of the most important 19th century works on the American Indian, and one of the most important and elaborate color plate books ever produced in America. Each plate is approximately 19 by 14 1/2 inches and was printed on fine wove paper and then beautifully hand-colored. McKenney, the first commissioner of Indian Affairs, collaborated with James Hall, the prolific Cincinnati journalist, to produce these wonderful portraits. The work is famous for its color portraits of the chiefs, based on original oils by Charles Bird King and others.

"This work is one of the most costly and important ever published on the American Indians" - Field.