5 volumes only (of 6, lacking vol. 6), small 4to. Half-titles, engraved additional titles, 274 engraved or lithographed maps, plates and plans on 272 sheets, mostly after Capt. Seth Eastman, including several of Native American artifacts of which many printed in colors with a few finished by hand and 2 plates of the Cherokee alphabet, some maps folding, with all plates as listed except for plate 9 "Comparison of North and South American Mounds" (not issued) and plate 29 "Map of the Creek Country in 1790" in vol. V. (Spotting.) Original reddish-brown cloth, central devices gilt, spines gilt-lettered (spine ends and a few joints repaired, hinges reinforced, extremities lightly darkened). Provenance: James Douglas (1837-1918), businessman and mining engineer, his collection now housed in the Arizona Historical Society (bookplates).

Second edition, preceded by the first edition of 1851. "Schoolcraft's work was intended to be a great encyclopedia of information relating to the American aborigines. With great earnestness, some fitness for research, and a good deal of experience of Indian life, Mr. Schoolcraft had but little learning and no scientific training. In consequence, his six volumes are little more than a magazine, of such matter relating to the Indians as fell to his hand, including a rehash of all which he had before written… Badly arranged, and selected as it is, the work contains a vast mass of really valuable material. It has indeed performed a very important service for Indian history, in collecting and preserving an immense amount of historic data" (Field). A sixth and final volume was published in 1857. Field 1379; Howes S-183; Sabin 77855.