[Volume 2] Historia de las Indias de Nueva Espana y Islas de Tierra Firme

This is the first printed edition of a mid-16th century manuscript. Diego Duran, a Dominican friar, was born in Spain. He traveled with his family to Mexico as a toddler. While in Texcoco, he learned Nahuatl. Duran was much criticized during his lifetime for his sympathetic attitude toward the Aztec peoples and their culture. He wrote:

"Some person's (and they are not a few) say that my work will revive ancient customs and rites among the Indians."

The manuscript spans Aztec history from their creation story to post-Colonialism. It includes a chronology of the Aztec kings. Duran's sources are unknown. It was typical of sixteenth century writers to borrow material from the work of others without citation. Certainly Duran worked closely with the Aztec and gained much of his knowledge from them.

The entire run of the first volume of this publication was confiscated by the government of Mexico. The printer, J. F. Ramirez left Mexico soon after. In 1880, volume two and an atlas volume were published under the direction of D. Gumersindo Mendoza, Director of the Museo Nacional.