Tah-Chee, Cherokee Chief: A 19th C. Folioisized Hand-Colored McKenney & Hall Lithograph

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This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Tah-Chee, A Cherokee Chief", from … Read more This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Tah-Chee, A Cherokee Chief", from McKenney and Hall's 'History of the Indian Tribes of North America'. It was lithographed by J. T. Bowen after a painting by Charles Bird King and published by E. C. Biddle in Philadelphia in 1838.
Tahchee's name translates to Dutch in Cherokee, and he became known as William Dutch. He was born in 1790 in the Cherokee Nation, which is now in a portion of Alabama. Tahchee became known as a skilled warrior and leader among his people, and he was eventually appointed as a chief of the Cherokee Nation "Old Settlers". During his time as chief, Tahchee was a rival of the Osage people and he worked to protect the Cherokee people and their land from encroachment by white settlers. He was a strong advocate for maintaining Cherokee sovereignty and cultural traditions, even as pressure mounted from the United States government to remove the Cherokee from their ancestral lands. In 1838, Tahchee and many other Cherokee people were forcibly removed from their homes in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Despite his resistance to the removal, Tahchee was eventually forced to leave with his people and make the long, arduous journey to Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma. Tahchee continued to be a leader among the Cherokee people in Indian Territory, and he worked to help his people rebuild their communities and way of life after the trauma of the Trail of Tears. He passed away in 1867, leaving behind a legacy of courage and resilience in the face of tremendous adversity.
This original McKenney and Hall folio-sized beautifully hand-colored lithograph is printed on a sheet measuring 19.75" high and 14" wide. There is minimal discoloration and spotting in the margins and some text offset. There is a short tear of the lower edge of the sheet, which has been professionally stabilized on the verso. The print is otherwise in very good condition. The original biographical text pages, 163-168, from McKenney & Hall's 19th century publication are included. They can be mounted in a mylar sleeve on the back of a frame for preservation and viewing. See less