Book The Indians Of To-day By George Bird Grinnell First Edition William Haskell Simpson

Book - The Indians of To-Day, Hardcover

Author: George Bird Grinnell

Published by Chicago: Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1900, First Edition

185 pages, illustrated with full page photographic plates

Condition: Fair

You collect rare Native American art and jewelry. This is a rare, First Edition book with significant provenance to bring depth to that art and jewelry collection.

The book was written by George Bird Grinnell, An American anthropologist and historian. This book is an ethnographic and historical account of Grinnell's experiences, observations and research of Native Americans at the turn of the century. 

Grinnell's book is a study of the lives, customs, beliefs and even difficulties of various Native American peoples. While Grinnell was a product of his time and carried some of the prevailing prejudices about Indigenous people, he is also recognized for seeing Native people through a more empathetic lens. In fact, he advocated for Native American rights with important American figures like Theodore Roosevelt. 

Significantly, this particular book came from the library of William Haskell Simpson, an important player in early Native American art. Simpson lived from 1858-1933. William Haskell Simpson moved up through the ranks of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in the late 1800's and early 1900's and eventually became head of advertising. Through this position, he acquired a phenomenal collection of Southwestern artwork for the railroads to use in advertising. He also collected a significant amount of rare and early Southwestern and Native American jewelry and artwork for himself. 

In 1981, the renowned Native American art dealer, collector, and scholar Martha Hopkins Struever purchased this collection including this book from Charles H. Good, the Son-in-Law of William Haskell Simpson. This book remained in Martha Struever's private collection from the 1981 initial purchase until her death in September of 2017. After Marti's death, Turquoise & Tufa received the book as part of Martha Struever's estate. This is the first time it is available to collectors. The book will include two xerox copies of Orchard Cabin photographs, the home where Simpson's collection was stored.

The inside of this book is tagged with one of W.H. Simpson's book tags, and it is signed inside "Tracy W. Simpson 1900" Tracy was William Haskell Simpson's son.

The book is in fair condition. Outside cover shows some dirt and wear. Pages are unmarked and umarred, however, binding is loose but still bound in sections of the book.