Most collectors of McKenney and Hall Indian prints, from the book History of the Indian Tribes of North America, know the back story of how the prints were created, and their historical significance. We won’t repeat that information here. Instead, we will provide notes about the 3 editions of these prints as well as a couple of tips for identifying authentic versions.
Authorized McKenney and Hall prints were produced during 2d and 3d quarters of the 19th century in the United States as carefully hand painted lithographs. The prints are still produced today, but they may not be hand colored, and they certainly were not produced during the stated time.
The main point is that there are 3 major versions published, the first and foremost being the first edition which was lavishly produced on folio sized paper as a subscription. Published between 1837 – 1844, the sheet measures 19 x 14 ½ inches. Keep in mind that people often trimmed the sheets to fit the frame rather than the other way around.
Not quite the financial success which the two entrepreneurs had hoped, a second smaller, more affordable edition was authorized, also lithographed and hand colored, produced between 1854-55 in an octavo size with sheets measuring 10 ½ by 7 inches. It was published by D. Rice and A. N. Hart, and printed and colored J T Bowen. The title of this edition is The Indian Tribes of North America.
The third and final authorized edition was also printed on octavo sized sheets measuring 10 ¼ by 6 ¾ inches titled as above. This edition was published between 1865 – 1870 by Rice, Ritter & Co. Publishers.
All three editions are of high quality and collectible, and published in Philadelphia, but all things being equal, the first edition print is the most valuable. Each instance should be evaluated on its own merits. Some are undoubtedly more rare than others, a topic which research should prove interesting.
