A complete copy of Edward S. Curtiss seminal The North American Indian, arguably the most complete ethnographic record of the native peoples of North America ever assembled, stole the show in two days of Fine Books and Manuscript auctions at Hindman on Nov. 9 and 10. The Curtis was the top lot of the single-owner Fine Books from the Dorros Family Collection auction on day one, which saw a sales total of $1.5 million. Combined with the various-owner Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, including Americana auction on the following day, the Chicago, Ill., auction house achieved $2.4 million during the back-to-back sales. Our entire team is incredibly proud of these two days of auctions, said Gretchen Hause, Hindmans vice president and director of books and manuscripts. It was an honor to handle Dr. Dorross collection, which included highlights from a broad range of collecting categories, and we are thrilled at the result of the Curtis. Following the success of that auction, our Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, including Americana auction saw very active bidding across a wide range of fields, leading us to an astounding 95 percent sell-through rate for the sale. Documenting One of the Great Races of Mankind Curtiss The North American Indian was one of the most ambitious and expensive publication projects of its kind, taking more than two decades to complete and resulting in one of the most important published works of the 20th century. All told, The North American Indian comprises 40 volumes: 20 text volumes featuring 1,511 illustrations, 1,505 photogravures, four maps and two diagrams, along with 20 supplemental folio volumes featuring some 723 full sheet photogravures in sepia, many of which have become iconic images. Funded in part by J.P. Morgan, Curtis set out to document as much of Native American culture and history as he could. Writing in the introduction, he explained that the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost. Complete sets in any condition are rare on the market and therefore highly coveted, and the set offered from the Dorros Family Collection auction attracted enthusiastic bidding that sent the piece past its low estimate selling for $882,000 to a phone bidder. The Fruits of a Carefully Curated Natural History Library Influenced by their photographic safaris to Africa and Asia, the Dorros Family Collection included a carefully curated selection of exceptional ornithological and natural history works. The highlight of the group was a third edition of Mark Catesbys (ca. 1679-1749) 1771 work, The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, which sold for $81,900 against a presale estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. A work by John Gould (1804-81), A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-Birds, realized $85,050. George Catlins (1796-1872) Catlins North American Indian Portfolio, rare plates of hunting scenes and amusements of the Rocky Mountains and prairies, 31-plate hand-colored issue, with six new plates, sold for $40,950. Hindmans day two session, including Americana auction began with an extensive collection of works on the art of fencing and swordplay that spanned five centuries. Assembled by a single fencing enthusiast, the group of 40 lots opened the auction with a flourish, netting over $130,000 and seeing each lot sell. The highlight of the section was a rare first edition of Joachim Meyers (ca. 1537-71) 1570 treatise on the art of fencing, which vaulted past its $8,000 to $12,000 estimate before selling for $40,320. Audubons Fly Past Estimates The works of John James Audubon (1785-1851) performed well in the various owner sale with all six lots by the famed naturalist surpassing their presale estimates. The top lot of the group was Plate CCCXI, an engraving of the American White Pelican, which sold for $88,200. Also of note, Plate CCLXXI, an engraving of the Great White Heron, sold for $31,500, surpassing its presale estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.