THE IRIS: AN ILLUMINATED SOUVENIR FOR MDCCCLII (1852)
Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co., 1852. Seth Eastman. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo (6-1/4" x 9-1/4") bound in the original full embossed burgundy morocco leather with a gilt decorative figure in the center of both covers. Neatly rebacked at a recent date with a new leather spine. Most notable for the color plates of scenes of Native Americans, some of the earliest chromolithographs made. Also with many articles and poems about Native Americans, most (18) by Mary Eastman. Complete with 12 plates--including the often lacking Presentation plate and The Landing of William Penn--as well as the Illuminated Title Page plate, the List of Illustrations plate, and all 8 chromolithographs of Native Americans by P. S. Duval after drawings by Capt. Seth Eastman are present. They include depictions of "Indian Courtship" and an "Indian Marriage Custom." The Presentation plate filled out by the owner in December 1852. Moderate to heavy foxing and staining throughout, the plates darkened a bit but still fairly clean and quite attractive. Overall a Very Good copy with early color plates of Native Americans. Item #017270
Seth Eastman was stationed in various posts throughout the West where he and his wife Mary observed and recorded their impressions of American Indians.
Price: $500.00