The Song of Hiawatha

Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, 1892. Hardcover. Very Good. Hardcover. Later edition. Includes over 20 photogravures and many line drawings by Frederic Remington. Originally published in 1855, Longfellow's epic poem is based on Ojibwe legends and is set at the Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior. The American painter and illustrator Frederic Remington (1861 - 1909) was well known for his images of the West, cowboys, and Native Americans. According to the introduction: "Mr. Longfellow made Indian pictures in verse and Mr. Remington has made Indian pictures in design, studying to make them correspond in spirit with the poet's conception, but not attempting to square the poet's description with the actual realities of Indian life as he knows it by observation. The pen-and-ink drawings which decorate the margin of the text are, on the other hand, faithful representations of a large number of actual objects, in use among Indian tribes, or associated with their life. Most of these objects are mentioned in the poem, but many are not, for the artist was desirous of making this collection of drawings a museum of Indian curiosities, and in pursuit of his object he has drawn both from his own large accumulation of material obtained in observations made during frequent intercourse with Indian tribes, and from a diligent study of objects as stored in museums or pictured by trustworthy artists" (xi). Bound in full tan leather boards with gilt title to spine and front board with gilt illustration of geese to front cover. Sunning and roll to spine. Rubbing to boards and heavy wear to edges of boards including small chips to leather and a minor dampstain to the edge of the rear board. Lacks front free endpaper. Toning to edges of pages, but overall very clean and bright. 242 pages. POE/022823.