Black Hawk War Eye-Witness Series

N.p.: Crawford B. Thayer, 1981. Paperback. Complete 3-volume set. 8vo. Stiff glazed pictorial linen-textured wrappers. xliii, 452pp; lix, 355pp; lxi, 481pp. Numerous illustrations, map, map front pastedowns. Near fine. Complete 3-volume set of this enormous compilation, titled (in order): "Hunting a Shadow," "The Battle of Wisconsin Heights" and "Massacre at Bad Axe" -- all three subtitled "An Eye-Witness Account of the Black Hawk War of 1832." "Hunting a Shadow" is a second printing and the other two volumes are first editions. Uncommon full set with an unusual autograph addition: Each volume bears a printed dedication -- first volume to Black Hawk scholar extraordinaire Ellen M. Whitney ("Gracious Lady and Meticulous Scholar...."), second volume to 19th century Wisconsin historian Lyman C. Draper, third volume to 19th century explorer/artist George Catlin. Blank leaf opposite the Ellen Whitney dedication bears a decorative-edged archival bookplate boldly signed by her in black ballpoint.