McKenney, Thomas L. and James Hall. “Lap-Pa-Win-Soe. A Delaware Chief.”

Thomas L. McKenney and James Hall.  “Lap-Pa-Win-Soe.  A Delaware Chief.” 

Philadelphia: E.C. Biddle, 1837.  From the McKenney & Hall History of the Indian Tribes of North America.  10 ½ x 8 5/8 (image).  Lithograph by J. T Bowen.  Folio edition.  Full original hand coloring.  Scattered foxing and staining.  Else, good condition.  Sold as is.  A/A

A handsome print from a series of striking lithographs from McKenney & Hall’s momentous portfolio of Native American portraits.  These prints document an important part of American history: the great leaders of the Indian nations which have disappeared since the mid-nineteenth century.  Thomas McKenney, head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years, was a champion of American Indians and fought throughout his tenure to preserve something of their culture, which he recognized as an integral part of the history of the United States.  As his legacy, we have a gallery of portraits of Indians by artists such as James Otto Lewis, Charles Bird King and George Cooke.