Letters and Notes on the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians

London: Published by the Author at the Egyptian Hall , 1841. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 9.5" by 6" . George Catlin. The first edition first impression of this sought-after account of north Native Americans based on the author's numerous travels, complete with three hundred and ten original illustrations. The first edition, first impression of this work, with 'Frederick' instead of 'Zedekiah' to p. 104. An extensive account complete in two volumes of the Plains Indians in North America by George Catlin, exploring their culture, costumes, and manners. Compiled from letters and notes kept by the author during his eight years' travels among their tribes from 1832 to 1839, in which he shares his experiences and observations. A truly impressive, vivid, and penetrating portrait of a native culture. Catlin was specialised in portraits of Native Americans, his early works including engravings, drawn from nature, of sites along the route of the Erie Canal in New York State. The present volumes are illustrated with a frontispiece to volume one and all three hundred and nine full page plates, carefully engraved from the author's original paintings, erroneously stated to be four hundred to the title page, and wrongly numbered to the plates. Complete with one linen-backed folding map to the rear of vol. I, and two maps to vol. II. In a half calf binding over faux leather boards. Externally smart with some shelf wear and rubbing to the boards and spine, minor chipping to the extremities. Internally, firmly bound. The pages are very clean throughout with only a touch of age toning, as usual, the occasional minor marking, and a minor tide mark affecting the lower margin of vol. II to all leaves. Illustrated with a frontispiece to volume one and all three hundred and nine full page plates, carefully engraved from the author's original paintings, erroneously stated to be four hundred to the title page, and wrongly numbered to the plates. Complete with one linen-backed folding map to the rear of vol. I, and two maps to vol. II.  Very Good