<
Navigation 2023

Rare prints and maps...Since 1918! Click here to go to Darvill's home page.

Since Adirondack Retro acquired Darvill's Rare Prints in August of 2022, we have been working tirelessly on our New State-Of-The Art Website. We are excited to announce that it is now up and running and that our massive inventory of Antique Prints and Rare Maps are being transferred over to the new site daily. In addition to the nearly 500,000 prints found on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com, Adirondack Retro offers an eclectic selection of Antique and Vintage Advertisements along with their Limited Edition Giclee Prints. During this transition, customers will still be able to shop and make purchases on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com.

Sign up for our Mailing List and receive our Adirondack Retro Newsletter. When you sign up, we will email you a coupon code for you to get 15% OFF your first order at AdirondackRetro.com.

Portraits from North American Indian Life

by Edward S. Curtis

Published by Promontory Press, 1972


Vintage 50-year-old prints

Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
These vintage prints would frame up nicely (and inexpensively) using a standard picture frame.

Edward Sheriff Curtis (February 19, 1868 – October 19, 1952)
Edward Sheriff Curtis
(February 19, 1868 – October 19, 1952)
Self Portrait

Edward Sheriff Curtis (February 19, 1868 – October 19, 1952) was an American photographer and ethnologist whose work focused on the American West and on Native American people.

Born in 1868 near Whitewater, Wisconsin, Edward Sheriff Curtis was to become one of America’s premier photographers and ethnologists. When the Curtis family moved to Port Orchard, Washington in 1887, Edward’s gift for photography led him to an investigation of the Indians living on the Seattle waterfront. His photograph Homeward won Curtis the highest award in a photographic exhibition contest. Having become well-known for his work with the Indians, Curtis participated in the 1899 Harriman expedition to Alaska as the lead photographer. He then accompanied George Bird Grinell, editor of Forest and Stream, on a trip to northern Montana. There they witnessed the deeply sacred Sundance of the Piegan and Blackfoot tribes. Traveling on horseback, with their pack horses trailing behind, they stopped at the precipice. Below them, the view of the valley floor stretched with over a thousand teepees – an awesome sight to Curtis. This event would transformed his life and inspired him to create The North American Indian. Consisting of over 700 large portfolio images, over 1500 volume size images, and over 7000 pages of text, The North American Indian is a part of American history in both its imagery and its creation.

In 1906, J. P. Morgan provided Curtis with $75,000 to produce a series on Native Americans. This work was to be in 20 volumes with 1,500 photographs. Morgan's funds were to be disbursed over five years and were earmarked to support only fieldwork for the books, not for writing, editing, or production of the volumes. Curtis received no salary for the project, which was to last more than 20 years. Under the terms of the arrangement, Morgan was to receive 25 sets and 500 original prints as repayment.

Once Curtis had secured funding for the project, he was able to hire several employees to help him. For writing and for recording Native American languages, he hired a former journalist, William E. Myers. For general assistance with logistics and fieldwork, he hired Bill Phillips, a graduate of the University of Washington and Alexander B. Upshaw a Crow ('Absaroke') Indian who had received Western education and helped Curtis in accessing and discussing with Indian tribes and understanding their culture. Perhaps the most important hire for the success of the project was Frederick Webb Hodge, an anthropologist employed by the Smithsonian Institution, who had researched Native American peoples of the southwestern United States. Hodge was hired to edit the entire series.

Eventually 222 complete sets were published. Curtis's goal was not just to photograph but also to document as much of Native American traditional life as possible before that way of life disappeared. He wrote in the introduction to his first volume in 1907, "The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost." Curtis made over 10,000 wax cylinder recordings of Native American language and music. He took over 40,000 photographic images of members of over 80 tribes. He recorded tribal lore and history, and he described traditional foods, housing, garments, recreation, ceremonies, and funeral customs. He wrote biographical sketches of tribal leaders. His material, in most cases, is the only written recorded history. His work was exhibited at the Rencontres d'Arles festival in France in 1973.

[wikipedia]

HUPA TROUT-TRAP EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 91

HUPA TROUT-TRAP

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

CANOE OF TULES – POMO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 93

CANOE OF TULES – POMO

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

ON SPOKANE RIVER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 95

ON SPOKANE RIVER

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

PIMAKI EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 97

PIMAKI

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

ASSINIBOIN MOTHER AND CHILD EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 99

ASSINIBOIN MOTHER AND CHILD

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

WINTER – APSAROKE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 101

WINTER – APSAROKA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

ATSINA WARRIORS EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 103

ATSINA WARRIORS

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

ON THE LITTLE BIGHORN – APSAROKE AND CHILD EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 105

ON THE LITTLE BIGHORN – APSAROKA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)

Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

NOTE THE TWO SPECKS IN MIDDLE SKY AREA

$15

FISHING CAMP – LAKE POMO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 107

FISHING CAMP – LAKE POMO

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

ASSINIBOIN HUNTER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 109

ASSINIBOIN HUNTER

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

THE OFFERING – SAN ILDEFONSO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 111

THE OFFERING – SAN ILDEFONSO

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

NEZ PERCE BABE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 113

NEZ PERCE BABE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCEEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 115

CHIEF JOSEPH – NEZ PERCE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

NEW CHEST – PIEGAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 117

NEW CHEST – PIEGAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

A HOPI MAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 119

A HOPI MAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

A CLAYOQUOT GIRL EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 121

A CLAYOQUOT GIRL

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)

Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

SOFT FOCUS/BLURRY

$10

A CREE WOMAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 123

A CREE WOMAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)

Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$10

BEAR BULL – BLACKFOOT EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 125

BEAR BULL – BLACKFOOT

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

HORSE CAPTURE – ATSINA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 127

HORSE CAPTURE – ATSINA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

BEAR'S TEETH – APSAROKA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 129

BEAR'S TEETH – APSAROKA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

A HOPI MOTHER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 131

A HOPI MOTHER

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

A SON OF THE DESERT – NAVAHOEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 133

A SON OF THE DESERT – NAVAHO

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

THE POTTER MIXING CLAY EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 135

THE POTTER MIXING CLAY

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

THE STORM – APACHE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 137

THE STORM – APACHE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

A BLACKFOOT TRAVOIS  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 139

A BLACKFOOT TRAVOIS

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

AN IDLE HOUR – PIEGAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 141

AN IDLE HOUR – PIEGAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

KUTENAI DUCK HUNTER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 143

KUTENAI DUCK HUNTER

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

PIEGAN ENCAMPMENT EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 145

PIEGAN ENCAMPMENT

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

WICHITA GRASS-HOUSE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 147

WICHITA GRASS-HOUSE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

GATHERING TULES – LAKE POMO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 149

GATHERING TULES – LAKE POMO

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

A MONO HOME EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 151

A MONO HOME

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

ON THE SHORES AT NOOTKA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 153

ON THE SHORES AT NOOTKA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

A HAIDA CHIEF'S TOMB AT YAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 155

A HAIDA CHIEF'S TOMB AT YAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$10

HOMEWARD EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 157

HOMEWARD

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

A NOOTKA MAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 159

A NOOTKA MAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$15

WOMAN AND CHILD – NUNIVAK EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 161

WOMAN AND CHILD – NUNIVAK

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

CHEYENNE TYPE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 163

CHEYENNE TYPE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)

Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

WISHHAM GIRL EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 165

WISHHAM GIRL

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

A ZUNI GOVERNOR EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 167

A ZUNI GOVERNOR

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

RED CLOUD – OGALALA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 169

RED CLOUD – OGALALA

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

MOSA – MOHAVE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 171

MOSA – MOHAVE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20

GERONIMO – APACHE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 173

GERONIMO – APACHE

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$25

THE THREE CHIEFS – PIEGAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 175

THE THREE CHIEFS – PIEGAN

From Portraits of North American Indian Life
(1972)
Sheet size: approximately 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches — about 30 x 22.5 cm
Back side has minimal text at the bottom (the title of the facing photo page from the publication)

$20