James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans - photo 1
James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans - photo 2
James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans - photo 3
James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans - photo 4

James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans

Sold
£ 25 400
Auction dateClassic
28.11.2023 14:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
Sotheby´s
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1076577
Lot 54 | James Otto Lewis | The aboriginal port folio. Philadelphia, 1835 1836, early depictions of native Americans
James Otto Lewis

The aboriginal port folio.Philadelphia: Lehman & Duval, published by the author, 1835‑1836

FIRST EDITION, folio (485 x 285mm.), 72 HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHED PLATES (out of 80, as usual) after Lewis, printed by Lehman & Duval, later half morocco over contemporary marbled paper-covered boards, spine gilt, blue paper upper wrappers to original parts number 1, 3­6, 8 and 9 bound in (part 1 as a title at the front, others at the rear), without the extremely rare lithographed title, a few plates with very light soiling or faint thumb smudges, boards with a scattering of shallow chips, a couple of the bound-in wrappers with expert repairs

THE FIRST IMPORTANT SERIES OF NATIVE AMERICAN PORTRAITS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, predating both McKenney and Hall’s History of the Indian Tribes of North America, and Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolio. The plates mostly depict prominent chiefs and other notable tribal members in great detail, recording their style of dress, face paint, jewellery, weapons, and other accessories; below each likeness is the name of the sitter along with their rank and tribal affiliation, which include the Sioux, Miami, Chippawa, Iowa, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Winnebago, and others.

James Otto Lewis (1799-1858) completed most of the original sketches during trips he made with Michigan Governor Lewis Cass in 1825-1827 to the Great Lakes area, where they attended the treaties of Prairie du Chien, Fort Wayne, Fond du Lac, and Green Bay. Though Lewis’ artistic abilities are often cited as being less sophisticated than contemporaries Catlin or Charles Bird King, the illustrations here possess an earnest simplicity and communicate the realities an artist would have faced while working rapidly in the field, “far removed from the abodes of civilization” and with the “rude materials” he was able to bring with him.

Originally issued in ten parts with eight lithographs per part, Lewis’s publication struggled to keep subscribers toward the end of its run, making the final two parts, in Reese’s words, “famously rare as a result”. Only three complete sets containing all 80 plates, a lithographed title page (issued with the final part), and three advertisement leaves are known to have sold at auction, making complete copies next to impossible to obtain. This copy, containing 72 plates and two of the three advertisement leaves, is very nearly complete, and, unlike most copies on the market, also contains seven of the ten original front wrappers.
Auction house category:Prints, graphics, books
Address of auction Sotheby´s
34-35 New Bond Street
W1A 2AA London
United Kingdom
Preview
28.11.2023
Phone +44 (0) 20 7293 5000
Phone +1 212 606 7000
Email
4FQ.AE2YUKFA@AYGLGHC3Y@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.