Maximilian zu Wied-Neuwied

[Travels in the Interior of North America. London: Ackermann & Co., 1843]



2 plate volumes only, oblong folio in 2 sizes (18 x 24 ¼ in.; 457 x 616 mm; & 12 1/16 x 15 5/8 in.; 316 x 397 mm) with 8-page Prospectus (12 5/8 x 9 7/8 in.; 322 x 250 mm) bound in to larger volume. 81 fine color aquatint plates after Karl Bodmer, all save 10 with imprint of Ackermann (London) and Bertrand (Paris) and blindstamp "C. Bodmer/Direct," the remaining 10 with just the blindstamp, comprising 48 large and 33 smaller plates, of which 49 are finely colored by hand, engraved by Aubert père, Beyer, Bishop, Boyer, Chollet, Desmadryl, Doherty, Du Casse, A. Fournier, C. Geoffroy, Himely, Hürlimann, Laderer, Paul Legrand, A. Manceau, Martens, Outhwaite, L. Prévost, René Rollet, Salathé, Talbot, Tavernier, C. Vogel, Lucas Weber and A. Zchokke, large folding engraved map, handcolored in outline; without title page, a few of the large plates shorter at bottom than others, margins of "Bisontanz" lightly browned, small plate 30 without numeration and inlaid, map with light foxing in upper margin and verso, prospectus with pencil marks counting plates. Antique half calf gilt, gold-stamped title labels on upper covers. Offered with the two German text volumes in the facsimile reprint (Leipzig: Zentralantiquariat der DDR for Johnson Reprint, 1968).

Abbey, Travel 615; Howes M-443a; Sabin 47017; Rader 3652; Wagner-Camp 76:2

The finest work on american indian life and the american frontier with the first truly accurate depictions of the plains indians, the result of an epic journey made at a time before the mass migration of pioneers westward. This appears to be a mixed set, as often occurs, here with 10 plates from the Paris edition.

Prince Maximilian hired Bodmer to record his travels among the Plains Indians of North American during 1833-1834. The result gives us a thorough and detailed picture of a previously little understood, and soon to disappear, way of life. The key leg of their trip started in St. Louis, from where they proceeded up the Missouri along the series of forts established by the American Fur Company. At Bellevue they met their first Indians, then went on to make contact with the Sioux tribe, learning of and recording their little known ceremonial dances. Continuing to Fort Clark, they studied the Mandan, Mintari and Crow, then the Cree and Assiniboine at Fort Union. At Fort Mackenzie in Montana they met a Blackfoot tribe. The portraits are noteworthy for their capture of individual personalities, and form the primary accounts of what became a lost culture.