[NATIVE AMERICANS]. [CALIFORNIANA]. RIDGE, John R. (1827-1867). Poems. San Francisco: Henry Payot, 1868. 8vo. With albumen portrait photo of Ridge mounted at front. [138] pp. Publisher's full brown cloth over beveled boards, front board and spine stamped in gilt, brown coated endleaves. FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK OF POETRY PUBLISHED BY A NATIVE AMERICAN. Ridge (sometimes known as "Yellow Bird") was a lawyer and author (and murderer), whose novel, The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta (1854), is the first novel published by a Native American. Many of the poems in this collection are related to California. This collection was published posthumously. Graff 3504. 

Spine and board edges sunned and rubbed, corners a bit bumped, light soiling to binding, previous owner's gift inscription and notes throughout in pencil. Very good.