1843: The Asiatic Theory

[McIntosh, John] ; [Ethnologist]

The Origin of the North American Indians [Asiatic Theory] [Indian Speeches] [1843]

New York: Nafis & Cornish, 1843.
A comprehensive mid-19th-century defense of the 'Asiatic Origin' theory of Native American populations. 

This work serves as an expansive ethnographic survey, attempting to link the indigenous peoples of North America to the 'posterity of Noah' and ancient Asian civilizations through comparative studies of linguistics, religious rites, and physical characteristics. Beyond its theoretical framework, the volume is highly valued for its preservation of Native American oratory, concluding with a 'copious selection' of Indian speeches that provide a rare contemporary record of indigenous eloquence and political thought.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Includes three engraved plates (included in pagination) depicting indigenous figures and cultural artifacts. 
+++ Binding: Professionally rebound in polished half-leather over maroon cloth; spine features gilt titles and decorative banding; new archival endpapers. 
+++ Content: Detailed chapters on the 'Antediluvians,' the discovery of the New World by Columbus, Mexican civilization, and a significant appendix of tribal oratory and speeches. 
+++ Imprint: Nafis & Cornish, New York. 1843. First Edition, First Printing. 
+++ Specs: 12mo; 7.75 inches tall; 1 p. l., (i) vi-xxxv, (1) 37-311 pp.

CONDITION — Very Good.  Professionally rebound with a tight, square textblock. The leather and cloth are in fine condition with no significant wear. Internally, the text is clean with light, even toning and occasional instances of foxing, typical for 1840s American paper stock. A handsome, structurally superior specimen.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Ethnographic Theory: Documents the 19th-century transition from biblical 'Lost Tribes' theories to early scientific 'Asiatic' migration theories.
+++ Native Oratory: The inclusion of Indian speeches makes this a primary document for the study of Native American rhetoric and 19th-century perspectives on tribal leadership.
+++ Antiquarian Context: Provides a 'brief view' of the Garden of Eden and the foundation of nations, illustrating the mid-Victorian effort to harmonize biblical history with new archaeological discoveries in the Americas.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
John McIntosh wrote at a time when the origin of Native Americans was one of the most debated topics in Western academia. By synthesizing linguistic data with social observations, he attempted to prove a singular historical lineage for the 'North American Indian.' While many of his conclusions reflect the biases of the 1840s, his work remains a vital record of the era’s ethnological methods and a respectful repository of indigenous speeches that might otherwise have been lost to the era of forced removal.

SUBJECTS: Native American History, Ethnology, Linguistics, Indian Speeches, Asiatic Migration Theory, American Antiquities, Americana, First Edition, Ethnography.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES: Sabin 43333; TPL 1982; Field 995; Howes M104.

Item #21729

Price: $245.00