McKenney, Thomas, and Hall, James

3 volumes, folio (20 3/4 x 14 1/2 in.; 527 x 368 mm). 120 hand-colored lithographed plates, map, 17 pages of subscriber facsimile signatures; text variously foxed with offsetting and some staining as often found, but the plates, being on better stock, are generally spared with only occasional foxing and some repaired edge tears, one tear to a text leaf with loss. Contemporary red half morocco and pebbled cloth, spines richly gilt with raised bands; bands rubbed, some skinning at extremities. Original printed front wrappers to numbers 1-4, 7 and 9 and a rear wrapper listing the agents for the set by state from an unidentified number laid in, each with the ink ownership signature of Samuel Colt. Contemporary cloth boxes.

Samuel Colt (signatures on wrappers)

BAL 6934; Bennett 79; Field 992; Howes M129; Lipperheide Mc4; Reese, 'American Color Plate Books' 24; Sabin 43410a

3 volumes, folio (20 3/4 x 14 1/2 in.; 527 x 368 mm). 120 hand-colored lithographed plates, map, 17 pages of subscriber facsimile signatures; text variously foxed with offsetting and some staining as often found, but the plates, being on better stock, are generally spared with only occasional foxing and some repaired edge tears, one tear to a text leaf with loss. Contemporary red half morocco and pebbled cloth, spines richly gilt with raised bands; bands rubbed, some skinning at extremities. Original printed front wrappers to numbers 1-4, 7 and 9 and a rear wrapper listing the agents for the set by state from an unidentified number laid in, each with the ink ownership signature of Samuel Colt. Contemporary cloth boxes.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

First edition, subscriber Samuel Colt's copy. Colt is listed as a subscriber herein and the wrappers bearing his original ownership signatures are truly rare survivals.A remarkably evocative copy given the influence Colt's invention had on the settlement of the western Indian territories. The present is a mixed issue of title pages, as often found.

"One of the most distinctive and important books in Americana" (Reese).