Billy Bowlegs, Seminole Chief: Original McKenney & Hall Hand-Colored Lithograph, 1865, Framed

Description

This an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Billy Bowlegs, A Seminole … more This an original 19th century hand-colored McKenney and Hall lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Billy Bowlegs, A Seminole Chief", published by Rice, Rutter & Co. in 1865. This is a very rare McKenney & Hall lithograph since it was not included in the earlier editions and is only found in the 1865 and 1870 editions, in which it was used as the frontispiece of volume 2 of McKenney and Hall's "History of the Indian Tribes of North America, with Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes of the Principal Chiefs. Embellished with One Hundred Portraits from the Indian Gallery in the War Department at Washington". Chief Billy Bowlegs (c. 1810-1859), also known as Billy Bolek, as well as by his Seminole name, Halpuda Mikko, which means "Alligator Chief", was a leader of the Seminoles in Florida during the Second and Third Seminole Wars against the United States. He was one of the last Seminole leaders to surrender, living out the remainder of his life in what was then called Indian Territory, which now represents Oklahoma.

This original McKenney and Hall lithograph is presented in an antique ornate wood frame with a marbled brown-colored concave portion, black trim bands and highlighted by a gold-colored inner fillet-like portion and a gold-colored ribbed outer section, and a cream colored mat. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. All mounting materials are archival. The frame measures 17.5" high by 14.63" wide by 1.5" deep. The sheet measures 10.63" high by 7.38" wide. There is minimal faint discoloration at the edge of the lower right margin, but the print is otherwise in excellent condition. less