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]

TRAVAUX – PIEGANEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 1

TRAVAUX — 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)

$15

THE MUSSEL GATHEREREDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 3

THE MUSSEL GATHERER

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 RUSH GATHERER – KUTENAIEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 5

THE RUSH GATHERER — KUTENAI

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 BLANKET WEAVER – NAVAHO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 7

THE BLANKET WEAVER — 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)

$15

CANON DE CHELLY – NAVAHO EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 9

CAÑON DE CHELLY — 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)

$25

FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN – APSAROKE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 11

FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN — APSAROKE

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

KWAKIUTL HOUSE – FRAME EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 13

KWAKIUTL HOUSE — FRAME

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

KOTSUIS AND HOHHUQ –  NAKOAKTOK EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 15

KOTSUIS AND HOHHUQ — NAKOAKTOK

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

PRINCESS ANGELINA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 17

PRINCESS ANGELINA

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

APIO-MITA (WHITE DOG) – BLOOD EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 19

APIO-MITA (WHITE DOG) — BLOOD

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

WAIHUSIWA, A ZUNI KYAQIMASSI  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 21

WAIHUSIWA, A ZUNI KYAQIMASSI

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

QAHATIKA GIRL  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 23

QAHATIKA 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)

$15

WIFE OF MODOG HENRY – KLAMATH  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 25

WIFE OF MODOG HENRY — KLAMATH

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

HLEASTUNUH – SKOKOMISH  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 27

HLEASTUNUH — SKOKOMISH

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 OLD CHEYENNE  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 29

THE OLD CHEYENNE

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)

OGALALA WOMAN  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 31

OGALALA 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

PORCUPINE — CHEYENNE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 33

PORCUPINE — CHEYENNE

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

BLACK BELLY — CHEYENNE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 35

BLACK BELLY — CHEYENNE

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

CHEYENNE GIRL  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 37

CHEYENNE 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)

$15

THE WHALER  EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 39

THE WHALER

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 WHALER — MAKAH EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 41

THE WHALER — MAKAH

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

NOOTKA METHOD OF SPEARING EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 43

NOOTKA METHOD OF SPEARING

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

A NAKOAKTOK CHIEF'S DAUGHTER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 45

A NAKOAKTOK CHIEF'S DAUGHTER

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

HESQUIAT ROOT DIGGER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 47

HESQUIAT ROOT DIGGER

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

A HEAVY LOAD — SIOUX EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 49

A HEAVY LOAD — SIOUX

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

WAITING IN THE FOREST — CHEYENNE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 51

WAITING IN THE FOREST — CHEYENNE

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 VANISHING RACE — NAVAHOEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 53

THE VANISHING RACE — 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)

A MOUNTAIN FASTNESS — APSAROKE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 55

A MOUNTAIN FASTNESS — APSAROKE

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

BASKET MAKER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 57

BASKET MAKER

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

POMO SEED-GATHERING UTENSILS EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 59

POMO SEED-GATHERING UTENSILS

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 FEAST DAY AT ACOMA EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 61

A FEAST DAY AT ACOMA

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

WASHING WHEAT —SAN JUAN EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 63

WASHING WHEAT — SAN JUAN

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 APACHE REAPER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 65

THE APACHE REAPER

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

WALPI EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 67

WALPI

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 LOAD OF FUEL — ZUNI EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 69

A LOAD OF FUEL — ZUNI

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 CORNER OF ZUNIEDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 71

A CORNER OF ZUNI

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

 ANTELOPES AND SNAKES AT ORAIBI EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 73

ANTELOPES AND SNAKES AT ORAIBI

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

ZUNI GIRLS AT THE RIVER EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 75

ZUNI GIRLS AT THE 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

A HOPI GIRL EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 77

A HOPI 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)

$15

WATCHING THE DANCERS EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 79

WATCHING THE DANCERS

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

ANDRES CANON EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 81

ANDRÉS CAÑON

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 APACHE BABE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 83

AN APACHE 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

GETTING WATER — APACHE EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 85

GETTING WATER — 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

APACHE-LAND EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 87

APACHE-LAND

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

AS IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS EDWARD CURTIS NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN PHOTO
P. 89

AS IT WAS IN THE OLD DAYS

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

next