The Edward Curtis Copper Photogravure Plates

The Original Curtis Copper Photogravure Plates made for the printing of The North American Indian represent the most rarefied work ever done by Curtis.

There are hundreds of Photogravures extant for each of Curtis’ images, hundreds of Platinum Prints, hundreds of Silver Prints, and hundreds of examples of Goldtone images. Even the Curtis Master Exhibition Prints of 1905 to 1906, long considered his most rare work, exist in duplicate. There exists only one Plate for each image.

Edward Curtis began his career as a master photoengraver as well as a photographer. He spent more time painstakingly perfecting the imagery of each Photogravure Plate than on anything he ever printed.

The 1,893 original Photogravure Plates from Edward S. Curtis’ The North American Indian, held in the private archives of The Curtis Collection for the last quarter century and now offered for sale through the Bruce Kapson Gallery, are perhaps the world's last remaining untapped treasure of photographic work.

The chance to purchase these Original Curtis Copper Photogravure Plates represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a significant piece of American history, the history of photography and a breathtaking work of art all in one.

The Volume Photogravure Plates are priced starting at $10,000 and the Portfolio Photogravure Plates are priced starting at $25,000.

Please inquire about the prices of any plates you may be interested in acquiring.

Click here to view the Original Plates