Beschreibung:

SCHOOLCRAFT, Henry Rowe (1793-1864). Historical and Statistical Information Respecting...the Indian Tribes of the United States. Collected and Prepared Under the Direction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co. 1851-57. PRESIDENT FILLMORE'S FINELY-BOUND COPY OF SCHOOLCRAFT 6 vols., 4to (317 x 250 mm.). Half-titles (vol.1: "Ethnological Researches, Respecting the Red Man of America"; vols.2-5: "Information Respecting, etc"; vol.6: "General History of the North American Indians"), engraved titles in vols.1-5 (not issued in vol.6), 332 engraved, etched, and lithographic plates and maps (views, portraits, maps, artifacts, pictographs etc), a number hand-colored, several folding, many after drawings by Capt. S. Eastman. (Rear endpaper in vol.4 creased and torn, scattered light foxing affecting a few plates in several volumes, but generally in clean condition internally). FIRST EDITION OF SCHOOLCRAFT'S MONUMENTAL SURVEY OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. PRESIDENT MILLARD FILLMORE'S COPY: the first two volumes inscribed in ink to "His Excellency Millard Fillmore," by L. Lea (unidentified), THREE VOLUMES SIGNED AND DATED BY FILLMORE: in ink on titlepages of Vols. 4 and 6 and in pencil on free endpaper of vol.5. AN IMPORTANT AND UNUSUAL AMERICAN BINDING, SPECIALLY EXECUTED FOR PRESIDENT FILLMORE, under whose auspices publication was initiated by the Department of the Interior (his message to Congress, dated 10 August 1850, is reprinted at front of vol.1); publication was continued and completed during Buchanan's term. BINDING: full black crushed levant morocco over thick beveled boards, covers divided into raised segments, each blind-ruled and with gilt decorations (including Indian arrows), sunken central panel in each cover with large gilt American eagle and gilt-lettered "Millard Fillmore," spines gilt-lettered and decorated with intersecting arrows in the four compartments, the others gilt-lettered, elaborately gilt and gauffered edges with American crest, an urn and floral swags. Doublures of scarlet or dark red velvet, free endleaves of different cloth patterned in colors and gold. (Minor rubbing to corners and board edges, one headband chipped, but bindings generally in excellent condition.) Field ; Howes S-183l; Sabin 77849. Provenance : President Millard Fillmore; unidentified bookplate; the present owner. [WITH]: SCHOOLCRAFT, Henry R. Autograph letter signed ("Henry R. Schoolcraft") to an unidentified contributor, Washington, D.C., 29 September 1853. 1 page, 4to, endorsed on verso . A letter to one of the contributors, acknowledging receipt of "the ninth chapter of your paper...the eight chapter has not come to hand...It is proper to say, in view of the unexpected length of your paper, that it cannot appear...in the next volume, which is about to be put to press. I am unwilling to divide it, but wish to present it entire in one volume...Your 10th paper will come in best, as a separate essay on the Manners & Customs of the New England tribes." (6)