Life of Tecumseh and of His Brother the Prophet; with a Historical Sketch of the Shawanoe Indians
Cincinnati: E. Morgan & Company, 1841.
First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. 4.5 x 7 in., viii, 9-235 + (1) publisher's ad. Recently rebound in full black leather; gilt lettering and decoration on spine, small emblem (Indian headdress) on front board; new marbled endpapers. A single plate facing p. 168, showing Proctor's Demand on General Harrison for the surrender of Fort Meigs, apparently does not appear in other copies of the first edition (the most thorough collation appearing in Morgan, Ohio Imprints). However, it was present in the 1850 edition, so may have been married to this copy when it was rebound. Previous owners' names (and repeated admonitions not to write in the book) on flyleaves, one chip to head of spine, moderate foxing, pages somewhat rippled, but still very good overall. Drake writes in the Preface that he traveled in Ohio and Indiana "for the purpose of conversing with the Indians and the pioneers of the region who happened to be acquainted with Tecumseh and his brother" and gathering "amusing and valuable anecdotes." Such richness of detail made the book popular in its day (it was reprinted multiple times) and has made it of enduring interest to modern historians. Howes D-460; Sabin 20811; Siebert 399; Thomson 344.
Item #14039
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