A striking 1901 illustrated hardcover on Native American history and railroad expansion, issued by the Traffic Department of the Chicago & North-Western Railway. This is part travel-era railroad Americana, part historical souvenir book, with a vividly designed cloth cover and period illustrations throughout.
Inside, the book moves through its three-part structure—“The Red Man,” “The War Man,” and “The White Man”—with portraits, maps, and historical scenes, plus the desirable fold-out railway map in the back.
Quick Specs
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Item Type: Antique hardcover book
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Size: 8 x 5.25 x .25 in.
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Material: Clothbound hardcover with paper text block
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Color: Brown/ochre cloth boards with black, red, blue, and cream cover design
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Origin or Maker: Chicago & North-Western Railway Co., Traffic Department, Chicago, Ill.
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Year or Era: 1901
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GENRE: Railroad Americana / Native American History
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Language / Pages: English / 115 pages
Edition & Features
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Edition/Printing: 1901 edition; later printing not indicated in photos
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Illustrations/Maps/Plates: Illustrated title spread, portraits including Black Hawk and Rain-in-the-Face, black-and-white plates, in-text maps, and fold-out map at rear
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Extras: Fold-out map of the Northwest in 1900 at back
Condition Grade: Good
Notes: Clean, attractive copy with noticeable but honest exterior wear. Cloth boards show rubbing/scuffing, light surface wear, and bumped/worn corners and edges. Front pastedown/endpaper area shows age toning/discoloration, a penciled “1.00,” and a few small spots/marks. Page edges are toned from age. Interior pages shown appear generally clean and readable, with illustrations and fold-out map present. No dust jacket.
See all photos for detail—sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
Near Fine: minimal wear; tight; clean.
Very Good: light wear; clean text; minor flaws.
Good: noticeable wear; sound reading copy; some marks.
Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
About the Author: Chicago & North-Western Railway Company
Issued by the railway’s Traffic Department in 1901, this book was created as a promotional-historical publication tying Native American history and western expansion to the company’s rail network. Library and catalog records identify the Chicago & North Western Railway Company as the corporate author/publisher.
A visually memorable piece of railroad history with shelf presence and plenty to leaf through.
Shelf-worthy vintage finds you can trust. Find Your Story.
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Disclaimer
The vintage items I share with you have been previously owned and loved and may show some wear. Please use the pictures as a guide. While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Care & Handling: Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings. Please note: If you have any questions or need more photos, ask.
