This superb lithograph with watercolor is based on a painting by Charles Bird King. The portrait shows Peah-Mas-Ka, a chief of the Meskwaki (or Fox) and Sauk peoples. After Peah-Mas-ka was killed in an ambush, his people went to war with the Menominee and the Sioux. Published by E.C. Biddle. A beautiful example with full margins which is rare for these lithographs because so many were trimmed and framed in the past.

Thomas McKenney & James Hall's portfolio of Indian portraits documents an important part of American History. Thomas McKenney, head of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs for many years, was a champion of the Native Americans and fought throughout his tenure to preserve their culture. His legacy was commissioning artists such as James Otto Lewis and Charles Bird King to paint many of the native leaders when they visited Washington. After he left government office, he produced lithographs of these paintings for this publication. These lithographs are the only visual record left of these great Native Americans, as the paintings were destroyed by fire in 1865.

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Condition: B+

A nice impression with full contemporary color. There is light offsetting from an opposing page of text, a few spots of foxing, and light toning along the sheet's edges. The bottom left corner has chipped away, well outside of the engraved image.