Indigenous Peoples of the World 1845

Bodmer Indigenous Peoples, from H.R. Schinz's Naturgeschichte und Abbildungen des Menschen. Zurich: Honeggerschen Lithographischen Anstalt, 1845

We are delighted to present many of the indigenous peoples prints first published by Schinz in 1845 as part of his Natural History of Mankind. These prints after Bodmer were published early on, before other Bodmer works that captured the imagination of the world and immortalized the tribes portrayed. The plates were lithographed by Karl Joseph Brodtmann, one of the most accomplished Swiss lithographers of the day.

Karl Bodmer, (1809-1893), set out in 1832 with his patron Prince Maximilian, an experienced naturalist, to travel the American west and complete an extensive survey. The result was the publication of Maximilian's journals in successive German, French, and English editions between 1839 and 1843, including eighty-one aquatint plates after paintings by Bodmer. These prints are now regarded as one of the most comprehensive and memorable visual surveys of the western territories made during the 19th century, providing a moving portrayal of disappearing tribes & landscapes.

The prints are ORIGINAL lithographs from 1845 that have been carefully hand colored by one of the few remaining professional colorists in England following historical descriptions & images. The coloring is absolutely stunning, and the prints are some of the most beautiful of all the folio plates of American Indians from this time. Each print measures at least 9 ½ inches by 13 inches. The condition of the plates is excellent, with the paper being a fine, heavy stock & very white. There are no fox marks or other blemishes. A copy of the title page will be included with each print.

The condition of these prints is remarkable for a work that is over 200 years old. There is little or no foxing, with characteristic strong plate marks on contemporary paper that is a soft aged white. Some sheets bear a fleur de lys or Whatman Turkey Mill watermark. The photos are very accurate, so please review carefully.