3 volumes, 8vo (262 x 167 mm). 120 hand-coloured lithographed plates, heightened with gum arabic, by J.T. Bowen. Original blind-tooled morocco, gilt-lettered on spines, all edges gilt, Condition: title in vol. 2 separated, some occasional pale spotting, end-papers renewed with leather, some light rubbing, generally very clean. MS signature of "Mrs. W. Baker, Aug 28, 1855" to front free endpaper to vols 2 & 3. A fine copy of the second octavo edition of McKenney and Hall's classic work, after the first octavo edition of 1848-50, reduced from the folio format first published between 1836 and 1844. The plates for the first four octavo editions were all produced by the same lithographer, J.T. Bowen, and the same high quality of printing and colouring of the plates is found throughout. McKenney and Hall's Indian Tribes of North America has long been renowned for its faithful portraits of Native Americans. The portrait plates are based on paintings by the artist Charles Bird King. The War Department employed him to paint the Indian delegates visiting Washington D.C., forming the basis of the War Department's Indian Gallery. Most of King's original paintings were subsequently destroyed in a fire at the Smithsonian. Their appearance in McKenney and Hall's magnificent work is thus our only record of the likenesses of many of the most prominent Indian leaders of the nineteenth century. Numbered among King's sitters were Sequoyah, Red Jacket, Major Ridge, Cornplanter, and Osceola. After six years as Superintendent of Indian Trade, Thomas McKenney had become concerned for the survival of the Western tribes. He had observed unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the Native Americans for profit. His vocal warnings about their future prompted his appointment by President Monroe to the Office of Indian Affairs. As the first director, McKenney was to improve the administration of Indian programs in various government offices. His first trip was during the summer of 1826 to the Lake Superior area for a treaty with the Chippewa, opening mineral rights on their land. In 1827, he journeyed west again for a treaty with the Chippewa, Menominee, and Winnebago in the present state of Michigan. His journeys provided an unparalleled opportunity to become acquainted with Native American tribes. When President Jackson dismissed him from his government post in 1830, McKenney was able to turn more of his attention to his publishing project. Within a few years, he was joined by James Hall, a lawyer who had written extensively about the west. Both authors, not unlike George Catlin, whom they tried to enlist in their publishing enterprise, saw their books as a way of preserving an accurate visual record of a rapidly disappearing culture. (Gilreath). McKenney provided the biographies, many based on personal interviews, and Hall wrote the general history of the North American Indian. Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontispiece. Hunting the Buffalo. 2. Red Jacket, A Seneca War Chief. 3. Mo-Hon-Go, An Osage Woman. 4. Shar-I-Tar-Ish, A Pawnee Chief. 5. Se-Quo-Yah, Inventor of the Cherokee Alphabet. 6. Tens-Kwau-Ta-Waw, The Prophet. 7. Yoholo Micco, A Creek Chief. 8. Mistippee. 9. Nea-Math-La, A Seminole Chief. 10. Ki-On-Twog-Ky, A Seneca Chief. 11. Caa-Tou-See, An Ojibway. 12. Me-Na-Wa, A Creek Warrior. 13. Kai-Pol-E-Qua, A Saukie Brave. 14. Tshusick, An Ojibway Woman. 15. Ong-Pa-Ton-Ga. An Omakas Chief. 16. Ne-Sou-A-Quoit, A Fox Chief. 17. Petalesharro, A Pawnee Brave. 18. Shin-Ga-Ba-W'ossin, A Chippeway Chief. 19. Stum-A-Nu, A Flat Head Boy. 20. Okee-Makee-Quid, A Chippeway Chief. 21. Moa-Na-Hon-Ga, An Ioway Chief. 22. Push-Ma-Ta-Ha, A Choctaw Warrior. 23. Tshi-Zun-Hau-Kau, A Winnebago Warrior. 24. Wakechai, A Saukie Chief. 25. Se-Loc-Ta, A Creek Chief. 26. Ma-Ka-Tai-Me-She-Kia-Kiah, A Saukie Brave. 27. Pa-She-Pa-Haw, A Sauk Chief. 28. Paddy-Carr, Creek Interpreter. 29. Payta-Kootha, A Shawanoe Warrior. 30. Tah-Chee, A Cherokee Chief. 31. Ka-Na-Pi-Ma, An Ottawa Chief. 32. Chippeway Squaw & Child. 33. Micanopy, A Seminole Chief. 34. O-Poth-Le-Yo-Ho-Lo, Speaker of the Councils. 35. Wa-Em-Boesh-Kaa, A Chippeway Chief. 36. Timpoochee Barnard, A Uchee Warrior. 37. Little Crow, A Sioux Chief. 38. McIntosh, A Creek Chief. 39. Naw-Kaw, A Winnebago Chief. 40. Ca-Ta-He-Cas-Sa, Principal Chief of the Shawanese. Volume 2. 41. Frontis. Red-Bird, A Winnebago. 42. Keokuk, Chief of the Sacs & Foxes. 43. A-Mis-Quam, A Winnebago Brave. 44. Ka-Ta-Wa-Be-Da, A Chippeway Chief. 45. Wesh-Cubb, A Chippeway Chief. 46. Chon-Mon-I-Case, An Otto Half Chief. 47. Hayne Hudjihini. 48. A-Na-Cam-E-Gish-Ca, A Chippeway Chief. 49. Qua-Ta-Wa- Pea, A Shawnoe Chief. 50. Me-Te-A, A Pottawatimie Chief. 51. Wa-Pel-La, A Musquakee Chief. 52. Tustennuggee Emathla, A Creek Chief. 53. Peah-Mus-Ka, A Musquakee Chief. 54. Major Ridge, A Cherokee Chief. 55. John Ridge, A Cherokee. 56. Pow-A-Sheek, A Fox Chief. 57. Esh-Tah-Um-Leah, A Sioux Chief. 58. Yaha-Hajo, A Seminole War Chief. 59. Wa-Kaun-Ha-Ka, A Winnebago Chief. 60. Kish-Ke-Kosh, A Fox Brave. 61. Chou-Ca-Pe, An Otto Second Chief. 62. Kish-Kal-Wa, A Shawanoe Chief. 63. Kee-Shess-Wa, A Fox Chief. 64. A Chippeway Widow. 65. Mar-Ko-Me-Te, A Menominie Brave. 66. Asseola, A Seminole Leader. 67. Ap-Pa-Noo-Se, A Saukie Chief. 68. Le-Soldat-Du-Chene, An Osage Chief. 69. To-Ka-Con, A Sioux Chief. 70. Tah-Ro-Hon, An Ioway Warrior. 71. Lap-Pa-Win-Soe, A Delaware Chief. 72. Tooan-Tuh, A Cherokee Chief. 73. Tish-Co-Han, A Delaware Chief. 74. Wa-Na-Ta, Grand Chief of the Sioux. 75. Sha-Ha-Ka, A Mandan Chief. 76. Chittee-Yoholo, A Seminole Chief. 77. Mon-Ka-Ush-Ka, A Sioux Chief. 78. Ma-Has-Kah, An Ioway Chief. 79. Rant-Che-Wai-Me. 80. Young Mahaskah, An Ioway Chief. 81. Meta-Koosega, A Chippeway Warrior. 82. Ne-O-Mon-Ni, An Ioway Chief. 83. Wa-Kawn, A Winnebago Chief. 84. Foke-Luste-Hajo, A Seminole Chief. 85. Wa-Bish-Kee-Pe-Nas, A Chippewa. 86. Thayendanegea, Great Captain of the Six Nations. 87. Ahyouwaighs, Chief of the Six Nations. 88. Hoo-Wan-Ne-Ka, A Winnebago Chief. Volume 3. 89. Frontis. Prairie on Fire (The Escape.) 90. Wat-Che-Mon-Ne, An Ioway Chief. 91. Not-Chi-Mi-Ne, An Ioway Chief. 92. Tai-O-Mah, A Musquakee Brave. 93. Wa-Baun-See, A Pottawatimie. 94. Pes-Ke-Le-Cha-Co, A Pawnee Chief. 95. Chippeway Squaw & Child. 96. Shau-Hau-Napo-Tinia, An Ioway Chief. 97. Waa-Pa-Shaw, Sioux Cghief. 98. Po-Ca-Hon-Tas. 99. A Winnebago. 100. On-Ge-Wae, A Chippewa Chief. 101. Le-Da-Gie, A Creek Chief. 102. Mon-Chonsia, A Kansas Chief. 103. No-Tin, A Chippewa Chief. 104. Oche-Finceco. 105. Tah-Col-O-Quoit. 106. Tuko-See-Mathla, A Seminole Chief. 107. Pa-She-Nine, A Chippewa Chief. 108. No-Way-Ke-Sug-Ga, Otoe. 109. Nah-Et-Lue-Poie. 110. Amiskquew, A Menominie Warrior. 111. Itcho-Tustennuggee. 112. Jack-O-Pa, A Chippewa Chief. 113. John Ross, A Cherokee Chief. 114. Julchee-Mathla, A Seminole Chief. 115. Kee-She-Waa, A Fox Warrior. 116. Waa-Top-E-Not. 117. O-Hya-Wa-Mince-Kee, A Chippewa Chief. 118. Pee-Che-Kir, A Chippewa Chief. 119. David Vann, A Cherokee Chief. 120. Apauly-Tustennuggee.