3 volumes, large folio (560 x 400 mm). 120 hand-colored lithographed plates, map sheet; 17pp. lithographed subscriber's list at end of vol. III. (Light dampstaining at foot of vols.1 and 2, vol.3 dampstained in all margins, offsetting to plates from text, occasional spotting and toning, 2 plates in vol.2 remargined.) Modern gray blue calf, covers with sunken panels and large gilt frames with gilt devices of horses at corners, upper covers with central figural devices with inlays in various colors depicting Ne-Sou-A Quoit ("A Fox Chief"), a Native American riding a horse (from the frontispiece in vol.2), and Tuko-See-Mathla ("A Seminole Chief"), spines in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, red calf lettering-pieces gilt in 2, pictorial devices with inlays in others depicting canoes, tomahawks, bison skulls, bison, and tipis; folding cases. Provenance: large morocco bookplate.

FIRST EDITION OF “THE GRANDEST COLOR PLATE BOOK ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES UP TO THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION” (Stamped with a National Character). Second printing of Part 1 with the explanation (pp.[3]-4) of the “War Dance of the Sauks and Foxes” authored anonymously and with footnote. “This text was first published in Part 8 and was to replace the erroneous Atwater text which appeared in the first printing of Part 1” (BAL). The present copy has the following BAL states: Titles: vol. I state A; vol. II state B; vol. III state A. Plates: "War Dance of the Sauks and Foxes" state B; “Red Jacket” state B. “Its long and checkered publication history spanned twelve years and involved multiple lithographers (mainly Peter S. Duval and James T. Bowen) and publishers, but the final product is one of the most distinctive and important books in Americana. Almost all the plates are portraits of individual Native Americans, the majority painted from life by Charles Bird King (who also reworked the less skillful portraits of James Otto Lewis)” (Reese). BAL 6934; Bennett, p.79; Reese, Best of the West 68; Bobins 58; Howes M-129; Reese, Stamped with a National Character 24.