234. [NATIVE AMERICANS: TREATIES]. Collection
of nine different treaties between the United States and
Native American Nations. [Washington], 1837-67. Folio.
Very good to
fine.
First editions. The collection contains treaties
with: Consolidated Tribes of Sac & Fox Indians
(Ratified December 13, 1837), Blackfeet Band of Dakota or
Sioux Indians (Proclaimed March 17, 1866), Lower Brule Band
of Dakota or Sioux Indians (Proclaimed March 17, 1866),
Minneconjon Band of Dakota or Sioux Indians (Proclaimed
March 17, 1866), O’Gallala Band of Dakota or Sioux
Indians (Proclaimed March 17, 1866) [2 copies present],
Onk-pah-pah Band of Dakota or Sioux Indians (Proclaimed
March 17, 1866), Sans Arcs Band of Dakota or Sioux Indians
(Proclaimed March 17, 1866), Two Kettles Band of Dakota or
Sioux Indians (Proclaimed March 17, 1866), and Nez
Percé Tribe of Indians (Proclaimed April 20, 1867).
"In the field of Americana few aspects of the subject
compare in interest and importance with that of the
relationship between the whites and the Indians, and the
treaties which were the manifestation of that relationship.
These treaties, often the result of the white man’s
greed for lands and gold are, in effect, the fundamental
documents of our national domain.... In no more revealing
way can the local history of America be preserved in
historical libraries and collections than by accession of
various of these original treaties by which was acquired
the basic claim to this land of ours" (Edward Eberstadt
& Sons, A Remarkable Collection of Indian
Treaties). Michael Heaston, Catalogue 16: "The
Indian tribes, bands, nations [were] treated as sovereign
nations each signing numerous treaties of peace with our
government. This process would continue until March 3,
1871, when Executive Agreements took their place. These
separately printed folio treaties...were issued for
official purposes and probably no more than fifty copies
were printed for private distribution." As the white man
expanded westward, the sites for negotiation and treaty
also pushed toward the Pacific. In this collection, the
earliest treaty with the Sac and Fox was concluded on the
right bank of the Mississippi in Wisconsin Territory; the
treaties with bands of the Dakota or Sioux, at Fort Sully
in Dakota Territory; the treaty with the Nez Percé,
at the Council Ground in the valley of the Lapwai,
Washington Territory.
(10 vols.)
($1,000-2,500)