North American Auction Company
Timed Auction

Last Chance November Passed Lots & Added Auction: NOV 18TH

Sun, Nov 13, 2022 02:00AM EST - Fri, Nov 18, 2022 03:00PM EST
Lot 595

Edward S. Curtis Prints, The North American Indian

Estimate: $200 - $400

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration this lot has Edward S. Curtis prints from his monumental work, "The North American Indian"; more than 2200 photos and nearly 5000 pages of text in 20 volumes and portfolios. The publication has been called “the most gigantic undertaking since the making of the King James Edition of the Bible” and “the most exquisite book art of our time.” The prints are: Red Cloud - Ogalala, 1907; Cheyenne Warriors, 1907; Atsina Warriors, 1908; and Two Moon - Cheyenne, 1908. All four were published in 1974 by a fledgling company, Sunrise Publications, Inc of Bloomington, Indiana. Sunrise Publications was started by four recent graduates of Indiana University who had met in a course titled, "The Religious Traditions of the North American Indians". Initially founded as a greeting card business, their interest in the American Indian photographs they had viewed in their Religious Traditions class led them to publish Curtis's photographs as photo art, a successful endeavor which lasted for about a decade. As an historical side note, one of the founders was Craig Aurness, the son of television's Gunsmoke star, James Arness. All photograph prints have E. S. Curtis signature and date in the upper right corner, plate number in the upper left corner. Titles are in the lower left corner, Sunrise Publications, Inc 1974 Bloomington, Indiana 47401 in bottom center and Courtesy Lilly Library at the bottom right corner. The prints are in fine condition, shrink-wrapped to gallery quality hardboard, no marring noted. Art measurements average 10.75"W x 13.5"L, hardboard measures 11"W x 14"L