The North American Indian being a Series of Volumes Picturing and Describing the Indians of the United States and Alaska [Text Volume I]

[Cambridge, Mass.], 1907. 4to. (12 3/8 x 9 1/4 inches). Printed on Van Gelder paper, illustrated with 79 photogravure plates (4 hand-colored). Text volume only from set number 198 of the original proposed edition of 500. Foreword by Theodore Roosevelt. The General Introduction to the series signed by Curtis and dated 1907. Publisher's half brown morocco by H. Blackwell, beige linen boards, spine with raised bands forming four compartments, lettered gilt, top edge gilt

The richly illustrated first text volume on Apache, Navajo, and Jicarillos cultures from Curtis' landmark work.

The Apache are a group of culturally related Native (truncated) American tribes that originally inhabited the areas now part of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico. The Apache people were known for their warrior culture, close relationship with the land, and nomadic lifestyle, particularly in the harsh deserts and mountains of the Southwest. They were skilled hunters, gatherers, and raiders, with a strong tradition of self-reliance as Curtis observes, "no tribe is more capable of living on the natural products of their pristine haunts than the Apache" (p. 131). The Jicarillas lived in the northern part of New Mexico, Colorado, and the surrounding areas. Unlike other Apache groups, the Jicarilla developed a more sedentary lifestyle, especially after their interactions with the Spanish and later Anglo-American settlers. The Jicarillas, as depicted in Curtis' work, were known for their horse culture and for being part of the larger Apache resistance to colonial expansion. Curtis provides a nuanced view of the Jicarilla's social and spiritual life, which included elaborate ceremonies, dances, and rituals. They are also noted for their skill in crafting and their use of natural resources to create tools, clothing, and ceremonial items. The Navajo are the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States today, primarily residing in the southwestern regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Curtis states that the estimated population at the time was 17,000. The Navajo culture, as represented by Curtis, is rooted in a deep connection to the land, particularly the high deserts and mesas of the region. Curtis' portrayal emphasizes the Navajo's weaving and silverwork, which became iconic in Native American art. "Practically every Navajo woman is a weaver," Curtis observes, "and the blanketry produced is one of the most important handicrafts of any tribe of North American Indians" (p. 136). Curtis collected materials over three decades by traveling extensively and living with Native American tribes, learning their customs, languages, and beliefs. His approach combined photography, detailed written descriptions, and sound recordings of traditional songs and language to document the lives of over 80 tribes across the United States and Canada. Curtis often immersed himself in the daily lives of tribal members, gaining trust by participating in or respectfully observing ceremonies and everyday activities. Curtis' deeply personal involvement in his subjects' lives and cultures was integral to his creation of one of the most comprehensive visual and written records of Native American life. His meticulous documentation has left an invaluable legacy of Indigenous cultures before the devastating impacts of European colonization.

The Truthful Lens 40; Howes C965, "dd."; Roth 36; Parr/Badger 173; Hasselblad 48; Auer 94. (Inventory #: 41793)