Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner: (U.S. Interpreter at the Saut de Ste. Marie,) During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America.

New York: G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1830. JAMES, Edwin. . TANNER, John [author]. A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner. (U.S. Interpreter at the Saut de Ste. Marie,) During Thirty Years Residence Among the Indians in the Interior of North America. New York: G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1830.

First edition. Octavo (8 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches; 222 x 140 mm). [1]-426, [2 blank] pp. With engraved frontispiece portrait of Tanner. Numerous illustrations and diagrams in the text. Part I is the Narrative by as told by Tanner to Edwin James, and Part II which is written by James, covers Native American customs, astronomy, music, poetry, medicine hunting, and includes a vocabulary of Chippewa words and phrases.

Quarter contemporary (?) black cloth over drab brown boards. Spine with original printed paper spine label. Boards and edges lightly rubbed. Previous owner's armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Some minor soiling and toning to pastedowns front glue. Scattered foxing as is usual of American pages from this time. Some darkening to bottom edge of text block. Overall a very good copy. Housed in a full brown cloth clamshell by the Lakeside Press with black morocco spine label, lettered in gilt.

"Tanner, captured by the Indians when he was nine years old, lived as an Indian for about thirty years, thereafter making an unsuccessful attempt to re-assimilate himself in white culture. His narrative contains much information about the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Companies, and about Lord Selkirk's Red River colony" (Streeter).

"The narrative was related viva voce by Tanner to Dr. James. Field remarks that 'His relation of his life among the Northern Indians, is probably the most minute, if not authentic detail of their habits, modes of living, and social customs, ever printed.'" (Sabin). ?

"Minute, vivid, but not altogether trustworthy, account of all phases of Indian life." (Howes).

Howes J42. Howes. Sabin 35684. Streeter 3701. Wagner-Camp 40:1.

HBS 69097.

$1,500.