Lot 659: The Indians' Book, Natalie Curtis, 1907 First Edition

THE INDIANS' BOOK: AN OFFERING BY THE AMERICAN INDIANS OF INDIAN LORE, MUSICAL AND NARRATIVE, TO FORM A RECORD OF THE SONGS AND LEGENDS OF THEIR RACE by Natalie Curtis, New York: Harper and Brothers, 1907. Hardcover First edition. Quarto. 573pp. "Illustrations from Photographs and from Original Drawings by Indians." Illustrated, colorful cloth boards with paper spine label, deckled edge page block. Contains transcribed stories and songs, multiple color illustrations from photographs, and original illustrations by Native Americans. Note: Natalie Curtis (1876-1921) was a pioneering ethnomusicologist remembered at her death as "a sincere and sympathetic friend of Native Americans and African Americans" who had hoped to use music to dispel misconceptions about and improve the lives of members of both groups. A visit to the Southwest introduced her to Native American music and inspired her life's work: collecting and promoting Native and African American music with the hope that the "universal" language of music would temper assimilation policies and ease race relations by showing white audiences the value of the people and their cultures. (Natalie Curtis Burlin: A Life in Native and African American Music (review), Martha Viehmann, The Western Literature Association, Volume 45, Number 4, Winter 2011, pp. 438-439)

CONDITION: Very good overall condition, slight scuffing, soiling to covers, some foxing, toning, and slight tears to pages. No dust jacket.