Proof-Sheets of a Bibliography of the Languages of the North American Indians

Reprint. Hardbound. Oversized octavo. xl, 1135 p. illus., facsims. 30 cm. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1885. This work was begun as a catalogue for the use of the members of the Bureau of Ethnology, and as a basis for a projected work by the Director of the Bureau on the classification of North American tribes by language. Over 5000 titles are described in Pilling's work, making this the most comprehensive bibliography on the subject in Besterman [350]. This is much more than just a bibliography on languages. It covers most early contact with the Indians, such as Schoolcraft, Humbolt and Elliot, and all cultural contact with native-americans from the first contact. Frequent annotations are provided, as well as collations and cross references. The original is quite scarce, having been printed in an edition of only 100 copies. A fundamental work.