Discover the Legacy of Edward Curtis
Unveiling the Artistry of Our Goldtones & Archival Prints
Our Source Material
The quality of a reproduction is decided long before it is printed. It is decided by what you begin with, and we begin with the finest source material of Edward Curtis' work that exists anywhere.
For our most important images, that source is Curtis' original glass plate negatives: the first and most authoritative record of his photography, made at the moment of creation and rarer than almost any print. We were privileged to hold 60 of these negatives, and we have since donated them to the Smithsonian Institution, where they are permanently preserved and available to the public and to scholars for generations to come. Before they left our care, we captured definitive high-resolution master files directly from the plates, so the artifacts now rest where they belong, while the images they hold live on in the work we produce.
Beyond the negatives, our archival prints draw on a complete set of The North American Indian on Holland Van Gelder paper, whose original subscriber was Frederick Webb Hodge, the anthropologist of the Bureau of American Ethnology who served as editor of the work itself. We work directly from this set's original vintage photogravures and from Curtis' own master prints, drawn as well from Christopher Cardozo's archives one of the most comprehensive collections of his work ever assembled. Each source is first professionally conserved cleaned and stabilized, its clarity restored to what Curtis intended and then photographed under a specialized, precisely calibrated lighting setup built to preserve the full tonal range of the original: the rich, warm sepia tones, the deep browns, the delicate midtones, and the subtle warmth that distinguish his finest impressions.
The result is a lineage you can see. Nothing we produce is interpolated from a low-resolution scan or copied from a copy. Every reproduction descends directly from the original as close to standing before one of Curtis' own photographs as a modern edition can bring you, and made with the same care for his legacy that led us to place his negatives in the nation's collection.
From our glass plate negative to our contemporary Goldtone™
Our Commitment to Authenticity
Edward Curtis' work documents the cultural heritage of many Native American tribes. Our reproductions are made with high-quality archival materials, so each piece retains the detail and tonal depth of the original photogravures. We aim to preserve Curtis' images faithfully for today's audiences.
Why Choose Our Reproductions?
Our reproductions stand out for their exceptional quality and fidelity to the originals.
Archival Quality Materials
We use museum-grade archival paper and inks to ensure longevity and vibrancy, preserving the essence of Curtis' work.
Historical Accuracy
Each reproduction is carefully researched and crafted to maintain the authenticity of the original photogravures.
Expert Craftsmanship
Every reproduction is the work of skilled artisans who take care to capture the detail and nuance of Curtis' work a standard of craftsmanship we intend to carry forward for years to come.
Examples of our glass plate negatives and the final results
Edward Curtis Image Showcase
