Record Price for Edward Curtis at Christies Auction House

On April 10, during a rare evening auction at Christies, New York, an exceptional complete subscriber’s set of Edward Curtis’ monumental work The North American Indian was sold for a record $2.88 million, including buyer’s premium. The set, from the private library of Kenneth Nebenzahl and on the very desirable Japan vellum paper stock, was hammered down by Francis Wahlgren, international head of books & manuscripts. Estimated at $1 – $1.5 million, the hammer price was more than double the previous record from seven years ago of $1.4 million. Comprising 20 volumes of text & images and 20 supplemental portfolios of large plates The North American Indian is thought to be the most ambitious publishing project since the King James bible.

“An absolutely unmatched masterpiece of visual anthropology, and one of the most thorough, extensive and profound photographic works of all time.” (Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian, ed.  Christopher Cardozo, NY, 2000, p.25)

For more information on this historic book set please see our THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN page.