**First Time At Auction**

George Catlin (American, 1796-1872). 5 chromolithographs from "Letters and Notes on the Customs and Manners of the North American Indians" ca. 1880 (a later edition after first edition of 1842 published in London). A wonderful ensemble of five George Catlin chromolithographs from a book that Catlin wrote during eight years of travel across North America during the 1830s. The most famous one is entitled "Pigeon's Egg Head (The Light) Going to and Returning from Washington" depicting the chief in native and western dress. In addition, there are two landscapes, one entitled "Sioux Camp Scene, 1841" and two other chief portraits, one entitled "Kee-o-k, The Watchful Fox, Chief of the Tribe". Size of images (portrait format): 6.75" L x 5.125" W (17.1 cm x 13 cm) Size of sheets: 9.875" L x 6.375" W (25.1 cm x 16.2 cm)

"Letters and Notes on the Customs and Manners of the North American Indians" is a two-volume travel narrative created by George Catlin, who was not only an accomplished American painter, but also an avid traveler and author. Catlin wrote the book during his 8 years of travel from 1832 to 1830. It was first published in 1842 in London and includes many of his illustrations.

According to the Philadelphia Print Shop, "The prints of George Catlin mark a poignant and heroic moment in the history of American art and culture. Setting out to chronicle and immortalize Indian culture, George Catlin lived a life of pioneer adventure and spirit colored by the ideal of the 'noble savage' in his pristine environment. In 1830 he went out to St. Louis and from there traveled extensively for several years to Indian villages along the Platte and Missouri rivers and then later to tribes throughout the mid and far west. The result was some 500 paintings and one of the most significant chronicles of Indian life and culture ever produced. Catlin put his paintings on exhibit in the United States and Europe, hoping to make his fortune, but though they were popular, these exhibitions were a financial failure. In an attempt to expand his market, Catlin had a number of his paintings made into prints, issuing them in 1844 as Catlin’s North American Indian Portfolio."

Provenance: Jon and Mary Williams private art collection, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#166575

Slight toning and crease marks commensurate with age. Rough edges on one side of each, since once removed from Catlin's book "Letters and Notes on the Customs and Manners of the North American Indians" ca. 1880.