An Indian’s An Indian : Bradford Swan [ King Philip , Paul Revere, Signed ]

Description

Scarce inscribed pamphlet from the Society for Foreign Wars in Rhode Island investigating the sources of the portrait of King Philip completed by Paul Revere

 

Swan, Bradford F. An Indian’s An Indian Or, The Several Sources of Paul Revere’s Engraved Portrait of King Philip Issued by George Dundall Davis, Esq, Governor, and the Council of the Society of Colonial Wars in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Roger Williams Press : Providence. 1959.

 

A transcription of a lecture published as the 44th publication from the Society of Colonial Wars in Rhode Island, this text explores the origins behind the engravings of early patriot Paul Revere, specifically in his 1772 edition of a history of King Philip’s War. Best known for his “midnight ride”, Revere was a silversmith and engraver by profession and was known to copy and modify existing portraits from other artists to embellish and flesh out his work as is shown in the present treatment on his coverage of the Colonial conflict between the Wampanoag tribe and English settlers. This text demonstrates the origin of his portrait of King Philip (Metacomet), cobbled together from three other images, reproduced from surviving print examples from the collection of Brown University’s John Hay Library.

Inscribed from Bradford Swan to bookseller George Goodspeed, American Antiquarian Society member and second generation owner of Boston’s Goodspeed’s Book Shop.

 

8vo, [16]pp, red textured paper wraps with title printed to front face. Annotation to front wrap in pencil, “Paul Revere – King Philip” Some wear at edges, reading creases. Minor soiling along spine hinge. Inscribed by author to George Goodspeed on colophon page. Includes four reproduction illustration plates. Very good condition.

 

If you liked this book you might also like this copy of a biography of Justice Brandeis, inscribed to journalist Rodney Dutcher.