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Bullock [William] Le Mexique en 1823, ou relation d'un voyage dans la Nouvelle-Espagne, contenant des notions exactes et peu connues sur la situation physique, morale et politique de ce pays; accompagné d un atlas de vingt planches… Ouvrage traduit de l Anglais par M***. Précédé d une introduction, et enrichi de pieces justificatives et de notes; par Sir John Byerley. Paris, Alexis-Eymery, 1824. 2 volumes of text in 8vo & 1 atlas volume in oblong 8vo. Half-title + title + iii + [1 blank] + lxxii + 364p; half-title + title + 370 (misnumbered 360)p + [1]f errata; 11 + [1 blank]p text + [20] plates including 2 folding engraved plans, 18 lithographs by Marlet after Boquet, Brisou, and Lepinoy (1 folding & 6 hand-coloured). Contemporary green quarter morocco, marbled boards. First French translation of the author s Six Months Residence and Travels in Mexico published the same year, an early general description of the young independent country, which was well received and also translated into German and Dutch. The atlas volume contains an engraved folding plan of the ancient city of Mexico drawn up for Cortés on the orders of Emperor Moctezuma, a folding plan of the city as it appeared in 1824 commissioned by Diego García, and 18 attractive lithographed plates: 10 of these are landscape and city views, 2 plates show remains of Aztec sculptures, and 8 are hand-coloured representations of popular costume; (2 of the costume plates are new to this edition - nos 13 & 14 in sequence of plates - the others are copied from the English edition. Bullock, an enterprising businessman of wide interests, especially in natural history and art history, originally worked as a jeweller in Liverpool, where he formed a museum of curiosities. In 1822 he travelled to Mexico in search of antiquities and adventure, where the new republican government took an interest in his researches and presented him with a silver mine near Themascaltpec. He amassed numerous artifacts including casts of the Great Calendar and of sacrificial stones, models of the pyramids of San Juan de Teotihuacán, and the original map of the ancient city of Mexico made by order of Moctezuma for Cortés illustrated in the atlas volume. On this return to London these objects became the basis for a larger collection put on permanent exhibit in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, called Modern Mexico , containing curiosities, models of scenery, specimens of artifacts and natural history. Bullock, a member of the Linnean, Horticultural, Geological, and other learned societies, was too restless to remain in England for long, and soon continued his travels and researches in North America, where he finally settled in Kentucky. Text volumes somewhat toned, otherwise a good set. Abbey, 667; Sabin 9141. Seller Inventory # 5661
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Le Mexique en 1823, ou relation d un voyage ...
Publisher: Paris, Alexis-Eymery,
Publication Date: 1824
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Fair
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
