Description:

Edward S. Curtis
(1868-1952)
The North American Indian Plates from the Southwest Portfolios, 1980
leather portfolios with photogravures on archival paper 7/228
Leather portfolios with photogravures on archival paper produced by the Classic Gravure Corporation. Folio size complete with 36 Plates and Octavo size complete with 75 Plates, plus book of text, c. 1980

Santa Fe, N.M, Classic Gravure Corporation, 1980. Three volumes: Text volume: 14 x 10 inches; small portfolio (Octavo size): five contents leaves and 75 gravure plates from photographs by Edward Curtis: 13.25 x 11.25 inches; large portfolio (Folio size): contents leaf and 36 gravure plates from photographs by Edward Curtis: 23.5 x 19 inches. Uniformly bound, as issued, in full brown calf, lettered in gilt, portfolios cloth-lined and with ribbon ties. No. 7 from an announced edition of 228 sets (of which only 99 were actually produced). The text and selection of plates are abridged from Volumes, 1, 2, 12, 16, & 17 of Curtis's famed twenty-volume magnum opus "The North American Indian."

The Classic Gravure Corporation (CGC), Santa Fe, New Mexico was established in the late 1970s to purchase the original 2220 copper plates used to produce "The North American Indian" by Edward Sheriff Curtis. The intent of CGC was to produce a continuation of 228 abridged/edited sets to complement the original 272 of 500 previously and originally issued. These were printed in Santa Fe, New Mexico circa 1980 by master printer Deli Sacilotto who was hired by CGC to print the limited edition. Only the finest materials were used including handmade Italian Fabrian on archival paper, full leather portfolio cases, and fine linen coverings. Curtis's daughters, Florence Curtis Graybill and Billy Curtis Ingram visited Santa Fe and endorsed the CGC project. The portfolios are the finest Curtis photogravures produced posthumously. CGC was only able to complete 99 Southwest and 20 Plains portfolios in two sizes (folio and octavo) falling short of the 228 intended portfolios.

  • Provenance: Private Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Dimensions: 24 x 20 and 14 x 12 inches (portfolios), text: 14 x 10 inches
  • Medium: leather portfolios with photogravures on archival paper 7/228
  • Condition: The two portfolios and book are new old stock in their original 1980 packaging; the leather portfolio cases and book binding are in good condition with scuff marks.

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November 1, 2025 12:00 PM CDT
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