Nez Perce Chief Yellow Wolf on the cover of Images of American Indians.
By Michael Stillman
The William Reese Company has issued its 13th "Art Bulletin." This one contains ten items under the heading Images of American Indians. Offered are some of the finest drawings of American Indians, some as individual framed or framable works of art, others as plates in very old and very important books. This is all top tier material, and not inexpensive, but for those who collect works pertaining to America's natives at the highest level, this is certainly a magnificent top ten list. So, let's count them down (or up).
1. An 1877 portrait of Nez Perce Warrior Chief Yellow Wolf, painted by Cyrernius Hall (pictured on the cover). Yellow Wolf was one of the leaders of the Nez Perce tribe that, after attempting to defend their tribal homeland, was chased on a 1,600 mile pursuit north, to Montana. Yellow Wolf finally made his escape across the Canadian border, but later returned to America where he was interned. An inscription indicates the image was sketched at this time, since it is inscribed "Sketched in July at Fort Leavenworth." Yellow Wolf would eventually make his way back home to the small reservation the Nez Perce were granted. $125,000.
2. A circa 1830 chalk and charcoal drawing of Chippewa Chief No-tin, also called Wind, by Charles Bird King. This drawing was used in McKenney and Hall's History of the Indian Tribes of North America. McKenney considered No-tin "a good hunter and brave warrior." $28,000.
3. The two-volume (1857/1866) Henry Bohn printing of George Catlin's Illustrations of the Manners, Customs, and Condition of the North American Indians… This edition is noted for its hand-colored plates. $45,000.
4. A rare mezzotint portrait by Francis Parsons of Cunne Shote, the Indian Chief, a Great Warrior of the Indian Nation. This portrait was drawn around 1762 when a few Cherokee Chiefs visited London. Cunne Shote is wearing a combination of European and native dress, and holds a knife while wearing a peace medal given him by King George II. $20,000.
5. A most remarkable painting of Cheyenne Warrior Roman Nose by Robert Riggs. It is hard to describe this dramatic portrait, other than the Indian looks like some superhero in modern art. See the image on page two of this review. Roman Nose wears a necklace of human fingers to go with his many feathers in this circa 1948 painting. $250,000.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
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Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
