James Otto Lewis

The Aboriginal Port Folio
James Otto Lewis, 1835
LEWIS, James Otto (1799-1858). The Aboriginal Port Folio. Philadelphia: [Published by the Author, 1835-1836] (cover title).
Lewis's celebrated work, this copy with eight "famously rare" additional portraits for a total of 72. "This was the first attempt made in the United States at a large scale work devoted to the American Indian. Lewis conceived the idea of a folio series of Indian portraits while accompanying Gov. Lewis Cass of Michigan on a tour of the Great Lakes in 1825-1827. He was not able to begin publication until 1835, when the work was advertised as ten parts, each with eight plates, issued in wrappers. The lithographers, George Lehman and Peter S. Duval, did a creditable job, but could not overcome the miserable execution of poor Lewis. Subscribers dropped away, and the last two parts are famously rare as a result. The supplement in a promised broadside advertisement never appeared. Nonetheless, it is a pioneering work among such publications" (Stamped with a National Character).
This copy has all of the eight plates that would have comprised part nine. They are portraits of "A Sioux Chief," "O-Wan-Ich-Koh or The Little Elk, A Winnebago Chief," "Tens-Qua-Ta-Wa or The One That Opens the Door, Shawnese Prophet," "Wa-Kaun or The Snake, A Winnebago Chief," "Jack-O-Pa or The Six, A Chippeway Chief," "Wa-Em-Boesh-Kaa, A Chippeway Chief," "A-Ta-Conse or The Young Rein Deer, A Chippeway Chief," and "Waa-Bin-De-Ba or The White Headed Eagle, A Chippeway Chief." Of these, Reese identifies "The One That Opens the Door" as the first Indian portrait which Lewis painted, in 1823 in Detroit. Tenskwatawa (1775-1836) was a spiritual and resistance leader of the Shawnee tribe and the younger brother of the famous chief Tecumseh. America Pictured to the Life 54; Bennett p. 68; Bobins 55; Field 936; Howes L-315; Reese, James Otto Lewis and His Aboriginal Port Folio, New Haven 2008; Stamped with a National Character, 23; Sabin 40812.
Folio (450 x 280mm). Letterpress advertisements by Lewis for parts 1, 2 & 3 as issued. 72 (of 80) hand-colored lithographed plates after Lewis by Lehman & Duval. Housed with color photographs of the plates which would have been in part 8. Original letterpress wrapper for part 5 bound in; modern red half morocco over 19th-century cloth, contemporary endpapers; modern quarter morocco clamshell box.