[Rarebooks] FS: 1908-09 Letters to Artist Frank E. Schoonover About Native American Indian Artifacts

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

A small group of letters and invoices from Frank M. Covert, Mexican and 
Indian Goods, to American Artist Frank E. Schoonover.

New York; 1908-1909.

An exceptionally interesting small collection of correspondence from a 
leading dealer in Indian goods to Frank E. Schoonover, a prominent 
American illustrator and artist of Western subjects. Covert, who was the 
publisher of the first edition of George Wharton James' classic book 
"Indian Basketry", sent Schoonover material on approval, and Schoonover 
appears to have kept most everything he was sent. The use of artifacts 
was a standard practice by artists of the era, who would travel West to 
do sketches and studies, and then complete their canvases in their East 
Coast studios, using materials such as these to add authentic details. 
The invoices find Schoonover buying Sioux papoose carriers and head 
dresses, Navajo blankets, buffalo hides, leggings and knife sheaths, 
Crow saddles, porcupine hunting bags, and similar items. The letters are 
business-like but informal, and the two obviously had a good 
relationship.

All are on Frank M. Covert's letterhead, with the exception of a January 
9th, 1908 letter, on Covert & Harrington stationary, written by an 
employee and interesting enough to quote in full- "At Mr. Covert's 
request I send you herewith the data for the powder horn recently 
purchased by you. It was bought of an Oneida Indian named Jake Schuyler, 
whose former home was near Oneida, N.Y. but who now lives on the Oneida 
Reservation, near St. Thomas, Ont. Canada. He claims that it was used in 
the War of 1812, and it is certainly very old. It was collected by 
myself, in June 1907. Yours truly, M.R. [illegible). I do not know about 
the fur cap. Mr. Covert will have to tell you that".

6 handwritten letters or notes, and 3 handwritten invoices, on Frank M. 
Covert or Covert & Harrington stationary. 9 items.  Folds, light soil; 
two large invoices with creasing and short tears along the top.  $675-

Some pictures = >

<http://www.joslinhall.com/images394/th-39497-cover.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images394/th-39497-cover2.jpg>



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