The Curtis Census
The Curtis Census is an independent effort to identify and locate all known sets and volumes of Edward S. Curtis's historic publication, The North American Indian. Released in twenty volumes from 1907 to 1930, the books were planned as a limited edition of 500 sets. However, far fewer were actually produced. Our census has determined, as accurately as possible, the true number of complete or partial sets that were printed and their present locations.
This all-volunteer effort began in 2018. As of March 2026, we have concluded our core research and are seeking a publisher for our work. For now, here are our key findings.
Total Numbered and Distributed Sets: 257
Existing Numbered Sets Today: 157
Unnumbered complete sets: 12
Known sets signed by Curtis: 49
Known sets signed by Roosevelt: 27
Unnumbered partial sets: 7
If you have questions about a particular set, please send us a message with the set number. Someone will get back to you after we have researched your inquiry.
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