“Kiowa Indian Art” Portfolio, Bell Editions, 1979

Between 1929 and 1952, C. Szwedzicki, a publisher in Nice, France, produced six portfolios of North American Indian art. American Scholars Oscar Brousse Jacobson, Hartley Burr Alexander and Kenneth Milton Chapman edited the publications. Many of the images were published as Pochoir prints which are similar in appearance to silkscreen prints. These works represent original art by 20^th Century American Indian artists.  One of the six portfolios was "Kiowa Indian Art: Watercolor Paintings in Color by the Indians of Oklahoma" which consisted of 30 Pochoir prints published in 1929.  Only 750 copies of the volume were published. 

The five artists selected were Monroe Tsatoke, Stephen Mopope, Jack Hokea, Spencer Asah and Bou-Ge-Tah Smokey.  A total of 30 images by these five artists were in the edition.

In 1979, Bell Editions, Inc. of Santa Fe, NM republished the 1929 edition with an added introduction by Jamake Highwater. The edition also was limited to 750 numbered copies. The contents include 29 pages of text plus 30 pages of plates, contained in a brown leatherette portfolio case with gilt lettering to front of case and with an illustration laid-on. The portfolio is secured with a ribbon closure. 

This is a complete set, as published, and is still in the shipping box.  This portfolio is number 609 of 750 and the booklet is signed by Jamake Highwater.  It has never been removed from the box nor have the individual plates been taken out and handled.  It is pristine and as issued in 1979.

Condition:  This portfolio is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: ex. coll. Seattle, Washington collector