Native American Literature, B
75. BARRETT, Michael W. Sitting Bullony. NY: Urizen Books, 1981. A novel in two volumes, about growing up Native American in modern America. Rubbed, near fine in wrappers. An unusual format -- a two-volume paperback novel -- and an uncommon book, in our experience. We have not seen other copies of it.
76. BARRY, Ada Loomis. Yunini's Story of the Trail of Tears. London: Fudge & Co. (1932). A recounting of Indian history, and the Trail of Tears in particular, ostensibly from the perspective of a Cherokee storyteller, although "Yunini" is not identified specifically enough to confirm that he was more than a literary device of the author. An illustration by Howard Harmon Arens identifies "a young man of Indian descent" named Ishtiopi "who lent valuable assistance in the writing of this book." Quarto; slight sunning; very near fine, without dust jacket. Signed by the author.
77. BASS, Althea. The Arapaho Way. NY: Clarkson Potter (1967). Second printing of this memoir of Carl Sweezy, one of the last full-blooded Arapahos, as told to Althea Bass before his death in 1953. Introduction by Frank Waters. Color illustrations by Sweezy. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with a bit of dampstaining to the verso and chipping at the spine crown.
78. BEAR HEART, with Molly Larkin. The Wind is My Mother. NY: Clarkson Potter (1996). The autobiography and teachings of a Muskogee Creek medicine man. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
79. BEAVERHEAD, Pete. Legends of S'cewne. (n.p.): (Flathead Culture Committee) (1978). A Flathead story, published by the Flathead Culture Committee of the Confederated Salish-Kootenai tribes. Illustrations by Tony M. Sandoval. Fine in stapled wrappers. Uncommon.
80. BENEDEK, Emily. Beyond the Four Corners of the World. A Navajo Woman's Journey. NY: Knopf, 1995. An account of the life of a Navajo woman, Ella Bedonie, who was born in the 1950s and whose life span has seen dramatic changes in Navajo culture, especially in relation to the United States and government policies toward the Navajo. One page corner turned; else fine in a fine dust jacket.
81. BLACKBIRD, A.J. History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan; a Grammar of Their Language, and Personal and Family History of the Author. Ypsilanti/Harbor Springs: (Ypsilanti Auxiliary of the Women's National Indian Association), 1887. The very scarce first edition of this history and grammar of the Indians of Michigan, along with a personal and family history, by a hereditary chief of the Ottawa tribe at l'Arbre Croche in Michigan. Author's name and other (Chippewa) writing erased or faded from the title page; owner's name on introductory page; a fair copy in edge-taped and spine-taped wrappers, with the rear cover replaced. A prefatory note asserts that "this is the only instance where a native Indian has recorded the story of his people and given a grammar of their language..." Although the revised reissue of this title, 10 years later, turns up with some frequency, the first edition is extremely uncommon.
82. BLEVINS, Winfred. The Misadventures of Silk and Shakespeare. Ottawa: Jameson Books (1985). Third book by this author who is partly of Cherokee descent and writes about the West. Faint smudge to flyleaf; else fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket.
83. BLEVINS, Win. Stone Song. NY: Forge/Tom Doherty (1995). A novel of the life of Crazy Horse, which won the Spur Award for Best Novel of the West and the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for best fiction the year it came out. Fine in a fine dust jacket with a Tony Hillerman blurb.
84. BLUE CLOUD, Peter. Turtle, Bear and Wolf. (Mohawk Nation): Akwesasne Notes, 1976. An early collection of poetry by this Mohawk writer, with a preface by Gary Snyder. Blue Cloud's first book was inspired by the Indian takeover of Alcatraz Prison in 1969, and since then he has become especially well-known for his Coyote stories. He is currently considered one of the Elders of Native poets. Faint cover crease; else fine in wrappers.
85. BLUE CLOUD, Peter. Back Then Tomorrow. (Brunswick): (Blackberry Press/Wind River)(1978). A book of poems and Coyote stories, illustrated with line drawings by Bill Crosby. Printed in an edition of 1000 copies in wrappers. Small ink price rear corner; else fine.
86. -. Another copy. Remainder stripe bottom page edges; near fine.
87. BLUE CLOUD, Peter. Elderberry Flute Song. Trumansburg: Crossing Press (1982). A collection of Coyote stories, again with illustrations by Bill Crosby. This is the simultaneous issue in wrappers (Crossing Press hardcovers from this period were printed in very small numbers, and one seldom sees them). Price marked out on rear cover; wrappers rubbed; near fine.
88. -. Another copy. Two page corners turned; gentle creasing to covers; near fine.
89. BLUE CLOUD, Peter. Sketches in Winter, With Crows. (NY): Strawberry Press, 1984. Poetry by this award-winning writer of Mohawk heritage, with illustrations by Peter Jemison, a Seneca artist. Fine in stapled wrappers.
90. BLUE CLOUD, Peter. The Other Side of Nowhere. (Fredonia): White Pine Press (1990). Another volume of contemporary Coyote tales -- poems and short prose pieces -- with illustrations by the author. Fine in wrappers.
91. -. Another copy. Small pencilled gift inscription; creasing to rear cover; remainder marking bottom edge of pages; near fine in wrappers.
92. (BLUE CLOUD, Peter). Trotwaer. [Publishing information and text in a Nordic/Scandanvian language](c. 1981). Numerous contributions by Peter Blue Cloud in this literary magazine. Inscribed to Joseph Bruchac by two other contributors, Jelle Kasperma and Johannes De Vries, in 1981. Near fine in stapled wrappers.
93. BONFANTI, Leo. Biographies and Legends of the New England Indians, Vol. I. Wakefield: Pride Publications, 1968. Revised edition. History of New England Indians and some biographical information about a number of Indian leaders. Near fine in stapled wrappers.
94. BONFANTI, Leo. Biographies and Legends of the New England Indians, Vol. II. Wakefield: Pride Publications, 1970. Revised edition. Second volume in this five-volume series. Near fine in stapled wrappers.
95. BONNIN, Gertrude (Zitkala-Sa). Constitution and By-Laws of National Council of American Indians. Washington, D.C.: (n.p.)(n.d.). A 12-page pamphlet signed, "Gertrude Bonnin/ President." Bonnin, an author of Yankton Sioux descent and one of the most accomplished and influential Indian women in history -- and certainly the most accomplished of her time -- founded the National Council of American Indians and served as its President until her death in 1938, at which time she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. NCAI attempted to foster pan-Indian political awareness and to lobby for the right to vote for Indians. Bonnin had been trained as a classical musician (over her parents' objections) and wrote the only opera ever written by a Native American, Sun Dance, which was performed once before her death, by the New York Light Opera Guild, which selected it as the only opera it performed that year. She also collected and wrote stories under the pen name Zitkala-Sa, and wrote a blistering exposé of the exploitation of Oklahoma Indians during the oil-motivated land thefts and murders in the 1920s (the recent subject of a novelistic treatment by Choctaw author Linda Hogan). This is a fine copy of a small, fragile pamphlet, with a waterspot over the "P" in President. Bonnin signed her collections of stories fairly frequently, usually using her pen name, but documents signed by her with her full name are quite uncommon, and the NCAI was probably her most ambitious and significant political effort.
96. BORDEAUX, G. Jake. The Name I Carved into Bleeding Stone. Marvin: Blue Cloud Quarterly, 1978. Poems written by a young Lakota while in jail. Issued as Vol. 24, No. 1 of the Blue Cloud Quarterly. Labeled for mailing; fine in stapled wrappers.
97. BORDEWICH, Fergus M. Killing the White Man's Indian. NY: Doubleday (1996). The advance reading copy of this updated look at myths and misconceptions about contemporary Indian tribes and tribal life, with an emphasis on changes that are taking place on reservations, largely beyond the view of white America. Fine in wrappers and signed by the author.
98. BOULANGER, Tom. An Indian Remembers. Winnipeg: Peguis Publishers (1971). Autobiography of a Manitoba Indian. Near fine in a near fine, mildly soiled dust jacket. A fold-out map of Manitoba is tipped to the rear pastedown.
99. BOWMAN, Gene. Earth Songs II. (Lewiston): (Syringa Corp.) (1981). A poetry collection with illustrations by Jack Hines. One of 500 copies. Gift inscription; near fine in wrappers.
100. BRIGHAM, Besmilr. Agony Dance: death of the (Dancing Dolls. Portland: Prensa de Lagar, 1969. The first book by this Mississippi poet of Choctaw descent. Originally named Bess Miller, she shortened her name to "besmilr," with no capital letters. Brigham was a student of Robert Duncan and a frequent poetic contributor to anthologies and literary magazines in the 1960s and 70s. This title, which we have never seen before, was printed in an edition of 450 copies. Fine in stapled wrappers.
101. BRIGHAM, Besmilr. Heaved from the Earth. NY: Knopf, 1971. A volume of poetry, her second book, and the only one to be published by a mainstream publisher. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
102. (Broadsides). Rooseveltown: Akwesasne Notes (n.d.)[c. early 1970s]. Five illustrated broadsides on various themes: "Now we are the ancestors of those who are yet unborn," with a photograph of a group of Indians at a Treaty Day in the early 1920s; "I didn't know it was wrong to kill Indians," with a drawing by German artist Hans Krull of a Colombian Indian; "It has come to me through the bushes that we are not yet together," with a photograph of three Indian leaders at a UN conference in Sweden in 1972; "North & South, we are one people," with a photograph of a Lacandon Indian family from Chiapas, Mexico; and one quoting Vine Deloria, Jr., in part: "Our ideas will overcome your ideas...," with a photograph of a statue of an Indian warrior, with a shopping cart impaled on his lance. Each approximately 17" x 22 1/2" and folded in fourths by the publisher; else fine. For all:
103. BRONSON, Ruth Muskrat. Indians Are People, Too. NY: Friendship Press (1944). A small volume by an author of Cherokee descent who was educated at Mount Holyoke College and did graduate work at George Washington University. She later became the first English teacher at Haskell Institute and then a Guidance Officer in the Indian Service (later the Bureau of Indian Affairs). This book is a critique of government treatment of Indians, based on the author's own experiences. Previous owner name; near fine in illustrated wrappers.
104. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Indian Mountain and Other Poems. Ithaca: Ithaca House (1971). The first book by this writer of Abenaki descent, who has carved out a unique place in contemporary American Indian literature as a poet, storyteller and chronicler of traditional stories, novelist, anthologist and publisher. Faint staining on front cover; near fine in wrappers. This copy is inscribed by the author to his parents and sister: "For Dad, Mom/ & Margie/ Christmas 1971/ With Love,/ Sonny." A wonderful association copy of this important author's first book.
105. - Another copy. Some staining to front cover and some rubbing and surface peeling there. Warmly inscribed by the author to his grandmother: "For Grandma/ For her birthday./ July 4, 1972/ Love,/ Sonny." An excellent association copy of a scarce and important first book.
106. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Buffalo in the Syracuse Zoo and Other Poems. Greenfield Center: Greenfield Review, (1972). An early collection of poetry, his second book, and the first to be published by Greenfield Review Press, the press he founded. Greenfield Review Chapbook #3. This copy is near fine in textured blue stapled wrappers.
107. -. Same title. Near fine in tan stapled wrappers.
108. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Late Summer: 1954. (Austin): (Cold Mountain Press) (1975). A small broadside printing a single poem, issued as Poetry Postcard, Series II, Number 4. 5" x 6 1/2". Fine. Uncommon.
109. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Flow. Austin: Cold Mountain, 1975. One of 700 trade copies in wrappers, of a total edition of 1000. According to the colophon, these were distributed free to Patrons of the Cold Mountain Press. Although not called for, this copy is signed by the author at the end of the text. Fine.
110. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Canticle. (Austin): (Cold Mountain Press) (1975). A small broadside printing a single poem, issued as a Holiday Postcard. 100 copies were signed by the author and the artist, Gretchen Reed; this copy is signed by Bruchac only. 5" x 6 1/2". Fine.
111. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Birdfoot's Grampa. (Austin): (Cold Mountain Press) (1975). A small broadside printing a single poem, issued as Poetry Postcard No. 28. 5" x 6 1/2". Fine.
112. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Turkey Brother and Other Tales. Trumansburg: Crossing Press (1975). The first edition of this collection of Iroquois folk tales, told by Bruchac and illustrated by Kahonhes. Small quarto, clothbound without dust jacket, apparently as issued (this is the reinforced "library binding;" there was also a trade edition in dust jacket). Signed by the author and dated "Freezing Moon 1974," apparently prior to publication. Spine-faded; near fine.
113. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Typed Postcard Signed. December 31, 1975. Written to Diane DiPrima, regarding a requested copy of the anthology Come to Power. Typed on the back of Poetry Postcard No. 28, Birdfoot's Grampa by Bruchac (Austin: Cold Mountain Press, 1975.) 5" x 6 1/2". Two tack holes and small spot on printed side; near fine.
114. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Road to Black Mountain. (Berkeley): Thorp Springs Press (1976). A short novel, his first. Fine in wrappers; there was no hardcover edition.
115. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Entering Onondaga. (Austin): Cold Mountain (1978). A collection of poems, with illustrations by Kahonhes (John Fadden), a Mohawk artist. This is the issue in wrappers. Fading to spine, else fine. This copy is inscribed by the author to his parents: "1/7/78/ For Mom and Dad/ With Love/ Joseph Bruchac/ (Sonny)," with a drawing of Kokopelli, one of Bruchac's signature marks. An excellent family association copy of this early collection.
116. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Mu'ndu Wi 'Go: Mohegan Poems. Marvin: Blue Cloud Quarterly, 1978. Poems derived from Mohegan stories and from the diary of Flying Bird, the last speaker of the Mohegan-Pequot language. Issued as Blue Cloud Quarterly, Volume 24, No. 3. Labeled for mailing (to Joseph Bruchac III). Near fine in stapled wrappers, and signed by the author.
117. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Ice-Hearts. Austin: Cold Mountain Press, (1979). A single short story, printed as a limited edition -- one of 300 copies signed by the author and the book's designer and printer, David Holman. In addition, this copy is inscribed by the author to his parents: "Moon of Long Nights/ 1979/ For Dad & Mom/ Peace,/ Your Son," with a Kokopelli drawing. A very attractive and an uncommon edition, and an excellent family association copy. Fine in saddle-stitched wrappers.
118. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Good Message Of Handsome Lake. Greensboro: Unicorn, (1979). A collection of poems. This is the issue in wrappers. Small bump at base of spine, otherwise fine. Number 9 in the Unicorn Chapbook Series
119. BRUCHAC, Joseph. How to Start and Sustain a Literary Magazine. Austin: Provision House (1980). A practical how-to guide by the founder of the influential and long-lasting Greenfield Review, as well as the Greenfield Review Press, among numerous other publishing ventures. Quarto; very good in wrappers. In our experience, one of the scarcer books by this important and prolific Native American author.
120. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Translator's Son. Merrick: Cross-Cultural Communications, 1980. A collection of poems, Cross-Cultural Review Chapbook 10, illustrated by Kahionhes (John Fadden). This copy is inscribed by the author to his parents: "Moon of Falling Leaves/ 1980/ For Dad & Mom/ Peace,/ Your Son," with a Kokopelli drawing. Fine in wrappers.
121. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Steinerne Riesen und Fliegende Köpfe. Frankfurt: Verlag für Interkulturelle Kommunikation (1983). The first German edition of this collection of Iroquois tales, illustrated by Kahonhes. Inscribed by the author to his mother: "For Mom,/ You might not/ be able to read/ this, but it's mine!/ Love, Sonny." Near fine in wrappers.
122. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Walking With My Sons. Madison: (Landlocked Press) (n.d.) [1986]. A collection of poems, one of 200 numbered copies printed by Katherine Kuehn at Salient Seedling Press. Includes a poem by each of Bruchac's sons, written when they were 10 and 16. This is one of the dedication copies: the book is dedicated to "My Grandparents, My Parents & My Children." This copy is inscribed by the author to his mother: "September 1986/ For My Mother/ With love./ Peace,/ Joseph Bruchac," with a Kokopelli drawing. Very near fine in wrappers.
123. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Hoop Snakes, Hide Behinds & Side-Hill Winders. (Freedom): (Crossing Press) (1991). A collection of Adirondack tall tales, retold by Bruchac. This copy is inscribed by the author: "For Chris,/ Peace,/ Joe Bruchac," with a Kokopelli drawing. This is a near fine copy of the issue in wrappers.
124. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Turtle Meat and Other Stories. Duluth: Holy Cow! Press, 1992. The uncommon hardcover edition of the first published collection of this Abenaki author's original short stories. Fine, without dust jacket, presumably as issued. Signed by the author. We have never seen another hardcover first printing of this title.
125. -. Same title, the issue in wrappers. This copy is inscribed by the author to his mother: "November 1992/ Moon of Frost/ For Mom,/ With love & thanks/ for the way you've/ believed in me./ Peace,/ Joe," with a Kokopelli drawing. A wonderful inscription from this writer whose family history has provided much material for his writings.
126. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back. NY: Philomel (1992). Second printing. A picture book of a Native American year of moons, illustrated by Thomas Locker. This copy is inscribed by the author to his mother: "For Mom,/ With love,/ Sonny/ (Joe Bruchac)," with a Kokopelli drawing. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
127. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Native American Sweat Lodge. Freedom: Crossing Press (1993). The definitive study to date of this important ritual for a number of Native American tribes. This is the very uncommon hardcover edition. By its construction, and by its apparent scarcity, one would guess that only a few hundred may have been printed, and that they would have been earmarked primarily for the library trade. Fine without dust jacket, as issued. Signed by the author.
128. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Worn by the Rain. (n.p.): (Salmon Run Press) (1994). A single poem, with an illustration. The third pamphlet in the Salmon Run Pamphlet Series. One of 50 numbered copies, signed by the author, the entire edition. Fine in saddle-stitched wrappers. Attractively printed and bound.
129. BRUCHAC, Joseph and ROSS, Gayle. The Girl Who Married the Moon. (n.p.): BridgeWater Books (1994). The uncorrected proof copy of this collection of "Tales From Native North America." Signed by Bruchac. Rear pages waved at top from paper clip; else fine in wrappers.
130. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Boy Who Lived With the Bears. (NY): HarperCollins (1995). Iroquois stories for young people, illustrated by Murv Jacob. Fine in a fine dust jacket, and signed by the author.
131. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Tell Me a Tale. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company (1997). A book on storytelling. Inscribed by the author to his mother: "April 1997/ For Mom/ With love and/ with thanks for/ listening.../ Peace,/ Joe," with a Kokopelli drawing. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
132. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Eagle Song. NY: Dial Books for Young Readers (1997). The advance reading copy of this novel for young people, with illustrations by Dan Andreasen. Fine in wrappers.
133. BRUCHAC, Joseph. Bowman's Store. A Journey to Myself. NY: Dial Books (1997). A well-received autobiography that is also a memoir of the author's grandfather, in which the author traces the circuitous and often searing path to discovering his Native American heritage. Fine in a fine dust jacket, and signed by the author.
134. -. Same title, this copy inscribed by the author to his mother: "December 1997/ Long Night Moon/ For Mom, With respect/ and love./ Peace,/ Your Son,/ Joe Bruchac," again with a Kokopelli drawing. A wonderful association copy of this memoir.
135. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Arrow Over the Door. NY: Dial (1998). A novel for young people. Inscribed by the author to his mother, four months prior to publication: "For Mom,/ With love and thanks/ for all your help over the/ years./ Peace,/ Your Son/ Joseph Bruchac/ December/ 1997." Front flap creased, otherwise fine in a fine dust jacket.
136. BRUCHAC, Joseph. The Waters Between. Hanover: U. Press of New England/Hardscrabble Books (1998). The uncorrected proof copy of this novel in the author's highly praised "Dawn Land" series, the first systematic attempt to portray, through the use of fiction, the day-to-day lives of Native Americans in the era prior to contact with the Europeans. Fine in wrappers.
137. (BRUCHAC, Joseph and William Witherup, eds.) Words From the House of the Dead. Prison Writings from Soledad. Greenfield Center: Greenfield Review Press, 1971. A collection of writings by inmates of the infamous Soledad prison, which were smuggled out of the prison and printed anonymously to protect the inmates' identities. This was the first book published by Bruchac's newly founded Greenfield Review Press -- Greenfield Review Chapbook #1. This copy is inscribed by the author to his parents: "For Dad/ & Mom/ Our 1st Book!/ Love/ Your Son." Spine slightly faded; very good in stapled wrappers. An excellent association copy. Bruchac later went on to teach a prison writing workshop at a New York State maximum security prison and to publish other inmates' writings.
138. (BRUCHAC, Joseph). Nalezymy Do Ziemi/Ziemia Nie Nalezy Do Nas. (Poland?): Tawacin-Poznan, 1987. A Bruchac appearance in translation. Also includes work by N. Scott Momaday. Near fine in stapled wrappers.
139. (BRUCHAC, Joseph). De Kiva. (Amsterdam): (De Kiva) (1989). A review of Bruchac's work, in Dutch, inscribed to Joseph Bruchac, with a few translator's notes expressing that the review is positive. Fine in stapled wrappers.
140. (BRUCHAC, Joseph). Ward, Vaughn, ed. I Always Tell the Truth (Even if I Have to Lie to Do It!). Greenfield Center: Greenfield Review (1990). Stories from The Adirondack Liars' Club, including a contribution by Bruchac. This copy is inscribed by the author to his mother: "April 24, 1990/ For My Mother,/ Who's known more/ than one storyteller in/ her time!/ With love always,/ Your Son,/ Joe," with a small Kokopelli drawing. Fine in wrappers.
141. (BRUCHAC, Joseph). Growing Up Native American. NY: Morrow (1993). Twenty-two Native American authors, past and present, write about childhood in essays and fiction. This copy is signed by Bruchac at his contribution. Other authors include Michael Dorris, Louise Erdrich, Leslie Marmon Silko, Simon Ortiz, Linda Hogan, Black Elk, N. Scott Momaday, Lame Deer, Ella Deloria, Sara Winnemucca Hopkins, John Joseph Mathews and others. Stain to foredge; near fine in a very good, internally tape-repaired dust jacket.
142. (BRUCHAC, Joseph). Paintbrush. A Journal of Poetry and Translation. Kirksville: Truman State University (1997). An annual journal, this issue featuring work by and about Joseph Bruchac. Inscribed by the author to his mother: "4/98/ For Mom,/ My first fan!/ Peace,/ Your Son,/ Joe," again with a Kokopelli drawing by Bruchac. Fine in wrappers.
143. BULLCHILD, Percy. The Sun Came Down. San Francisco: Harper & Row (1985). Subtitled "The History of the World as My Blackfeet Elders Told It." A lengthy collection of traditional tales, which illuminate the Blackfeet traditions about the natural world, spirituality and the genesis of the tribe. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
144. -. Another copy. A review copy. Faint spot to top edge; else fine in a fine, price-clipped dust jacket, with promotional sheet laid in.
145. BUSH, Barney. My Horse and a Jukebox. Los Angeles: U. of California (1979). Poetry by a writer of Shawnee/Cayuga descent, apparently his first book, number 4 in the UCLA Native American Series of pamphlets. Rubbing near the spine; fine in stapled wrappers.
146. BUSH-BANKS, Olivia Ward. The Collected Works of Olivia Ward Bush-Banks. NY: Oxford University Press, 1991. A volume in the Schomburg Library of Nineteenth Century Black Women Writers. With a foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Reprints all of the writings of this Black-Indian author, whose writings consciously attacked the stereotypes of both African-Americans and Native Americans of the time. Fine, without dust jacket, as issued.