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first edition, 4 volumes, comprising text in 2 volumes, 4to (355 x 267mm., vol.2 slightly smaller) and plates in 2 volumes, large folio (610 x 435mm.) and oblong folio (290 x 415mm.), 80 fine aquatint plates after Karl Bodmer (only, of 81), most with small blindstamp ?C. Bodmer/Direct?, comprising 48 large and 32 smaller plates (only, of 33), of which 49 finely coloured by hand (17 ?tableau? and 32 ?vignette?), engraved by Aubert père, Beyer, Bishop, Boyer, Chollet, Desmadryl, Doherty, Du Casse, A. Fournier, C. Geoffroy, Himely, Hürlimann, Laderer, Paul Legrand, A. Manceau, Martens, Outhwaite, L. Prévost, Réné Rollet, Salathé, Talbot, Tavernier, C. Vogel, Lucas Weber and A. Zschokke, large folding engraved map, hand-coloured in outline, text volumes with dedication leaf, lists of subscribers and plates, 48 wood-engravings in text, errata at end of both volumes, plate volumes bound in contemporary green half morocco gilt, text volumes bound in contemporary green cloth, not wholly uniform, the smaller folio without plate 7 (Abbey plate 8) ?Cave-in-Rock? View on the Ohio?, some spotting, generally but not exclusively confined to the plain plates, without the lithographed table sometimes found in smaller folio
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Literature:
Abbey, Travel
615; Howes M443a; Pilling 2522; Rader 3652; Sabin 47015; Wagner-Camp-Becker 76:2; cf. Goetzmann (et al), Karl Bodmer's America
(1984)
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Notes: KOBLENZ: J. HOELSCHER, 1839-1841
the finest work on american indian life and the american frontier, with the first truly accurate depictions of the plains indians, the result of an epic journey which took place at a time when the mass migration of settlers and pioneers was about to alter irrevocably the unspoiled West. Karl Bodmer (1809?1893) was engaged by Prince Maximilian (already famed for his earlier explorations to Brazil) to provide a record of his travels among the Plains Indians of North America during 1833?1834. His efforts show great versatility and technical virtuosity and give us a uniquely thorough, accomplished and detailed picture of a previously little understood (and soon to vanish) way of life. The most important part of their travels started from St. Louis, whence they proceeded up the treacherous Missouri along the line of forts established by the American Fur Company. At Bellevue they encountered their first Indians, then went on to make contact with the Sioux tribe, learning of and recording their little known ceremonial dances, their powerful pride and dignity. Transferring from the Yellow Stone to another steamer, the Assiniboine, they continued to Fort Clark, studying there the Mandan, Mintari and Crow tribes, then the Cree and Assiniboin tribes at Fort Union, the main base of the American Fur Company. On a necessarily much smaller vessel they journeyed through the extraordinary geological scenery of that section of the Missouri to Fort Mackenzie in Montana, establishing over a month there a cautious friendship with the fearsome Blackfoot tribe. From this, the westernmost point reached, it was considered too dangerous to continue and the return journey downstream began. The winter brought its own difficulties and discomforts, but Bodmer was still able to execute numerous studies of villages, dances, and especially, the people, who were often intrigued and delighted by his work. The portraits are particularly notable for their capturing of individual personalities, as well as forming, together with Prince Maximilian's written studies, the primary accounts of what became virtually lost cultures.
