Sep 24, 2020 - Sale 2546

Sale 2546 - Lot 5

Price Realized: $ 1,062
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 700 - $ 1,000
(AMERICAN INDIANS.) Frederic Baraga. Abrégé de l'histoire des Indiens de l'Amerique septentrionale. Frontispiece plate. [4], 296 pages. 12mo, publisher's embossed boards with gilt rule, minor wear; moderate foxing; bookplate from an 1844 prize book presentation on front pastedown, early owner's signature on front free endpaper. Paris, [circa 1840?]

Additional Details

Probable second French edition. Baraga was a Catholic missionary in Michigan and was later named bishop. This work was sold in France to help raise funds for his mission work. The first edition was issued in Paris in 1837, with the printer's imprint reading "Imprimerie de E.J. Bailly, Place Sorbonne, 2" on the verso of the half-title. This copy reads "Imprimerie et fonderie. . . " a styling known to be used circa 1839-41. The bookplate is dated 1844. Later dated editions from 1843 and 1845 have been reported, as well as 1837 printings in German and Baraga's native Slovenian. In 2004, Baraga's work was first published in English as "Short History of the North American Indians." The collation of all the early French editions is the same. For other editions, see Field 74; Howes B111; Sabin 3246.