1. EDWARD S. CURTIS. Assiniboin Bowman, 1926. 5.5x7.6" image on 7x8.7" copper plate, framed in a black shadowbox frame. Plate date 1928. From Volume 18 Northern Woodlands and Alberta Canada, of The North American Indian. Engraved on plate recto: Assiniboin Bowman / From Copyright Photograph 1926 by E.S. Curtis. Framed with photogravure.

2. EDWARD S. CURTIS. Assiniboin Bowman, 1926. 5.5x7.6" photogravure on 9.1x12.1" Holland Van Gelder paper, framed in a black shadowbox frame. Print date 1928. From Volume 18, Northern Woodlands and Alberta Canada, of The North American Indian. Printed on print recto: Assiniboin Bowman / From Copyright Photograph 1926 by E.S. Curtis. Framed with copper plate.

A beautifully framed duo of the unique copper plate and original edition photogravure.

Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) created a legacy that was a monumental visual tour de force, an ethnographic, heroic and theatrical record of the American Indian and their recollected and imagined way of life before the white man. Between 1898 and 1928, working in collaboration with many tribal members, Curtis created an ethno-historical account combined with photographic notions of character portraiture, environmental portraiture, and classical romanticism as well as straight documentary views. He published 20 octavo volumes with around 75 prints per volume each accompanied with a larger portfolio of usually 36 hand pulled photogravures. The North America Indian (1906-1928) is considered the most lavish and elegantly illustrated set of photographic books ever produced. This lot has the unique copper plate made for this publication under Curtis' supervision as well as matching photogravure made from the copper plate.

1. Excellent. Minor wear, mild tarnish, ink residue spots, few scratches and abrasions.

2. Very Good. Yellowing on edges.