King, Charles Bird "Ochio Finico-Charles Cornels"

Charles Bird King. "Ochio Finico-Charles Cornels". [Creek]. From McKenney & Hall History of the Native American Tribes of North America.

Printed in Philadelphia, 1836-38. Publisher's remainder. Folio. 10 3/4 x 9 1/2 (image). 21 3/4 x 15 3/8 (paper). Lithograph. With original hand coloring on jacket and contemporary hand coloring on face. Excellent condition.

A print intended for McKenney & Hall's impressive portfolio of Native American portraits. Thomas McKenney, head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years, was a champion of the Native Americans and fought throughout his tenure to preserve something of their culture, so integral a part of the history of the United States. This print is one that remained since the nineteenth century in one of the publisher's warehouses, having been only partially colored and never issued. Thus their excellent condition is explained by their never having been subjected to the vicissitudes of the open market, and their chance survival for over a century and a half is most fortuitous.