1830 · London
by [Dupaix, Guillermo]
London, 1830. [6],[2 blank leaves],[18]pp. plus 146 lithographic plates (some folding). Elephant folio. Modern half blue morocco and cloth, raised bands. Some slight foxing in margins of a few plates. Overall internally very good. This important series of topographical views and illustrations of Mayan artifacts, based on drawings made in 1805-7 by the French captain, Guillermo Dupaix, is the fourth volume of Lord Kingsborough's monumental eleven-volume ANTIQUITIES OF MEXICO. It is by far the most desirable volume of the set, since it is the only one with topographical views of the sites as they appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. The handsome lithographs depict Palenque, Mitla, and other important Mayan ruins. In addition, there are lithographs of ancient Mexican sculptures from specimens in the British Museum. There are also plates depicting the GIRO DEL MUNDO of Gemilli Careri, including an engraving of the Mexican calendar taken from a painting once owned by Boturini. Other volumes of this work are sometimes found with colored plates; however, the plates in the present volume are never found colored (except for a few partially colored plans and the marvelous colored plate of the Mexican calendar taken from Gemilli's work mentioned above).
This is the first publication of Dupaix's work, the most extensive series of views of the Mayan ruins to have appeared in print up to that time. His work was republished in a different format in Paris in 1833-34. The Kingsborough publication is the more lavish of the two versions, as well as having priority. A most important series of Meso- American views. SABIN 37800. RICH II:33. (Inventory #: WRCAM20677A)
This is the first publication of Dupaix's work, the most extensive series of views of the Mayan ruins to have appeared in print up to that time. His work was republished in a different format in Paris in 1833-34. The Kingsborough publication is the more lavish of the two versions, as well as having priority. A most important series of Meso- American views. SABIN 37800. RICH II:33. (Inventory #: WRCAM20677A)