Vues des Cordilleres, et monumens des peuples indigenes de l'Amerique
Creator(s):
von Humboldt, Alexander (1769-1859)
Date: 1813
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Alexander von Humboldt traveled extensively in the Americas between 1799 and 1804, exploring and describing them for the first time from a scientific angle.
This work is one of the most important publications to result from the expedition to America in 1799-1804 of the great German scientist and explorer, Alexander von Humboldt, and the botanist, Aime Bonpland. During their extensive trip, the two gathered a mass of material relating to all aspects of the New World, and their work in the field and the subsequent publications set a new standard for scientific exploration and reporting. Humboldt and Bonpland set out to investigate the area's geography, natural history, archaeology, and native customs, supplementing, their field explorations, with extensive research in Europe. The series of publications resulting from the expedition began in 1805 and took decades to publish, the present volume being the first major work from the series to appear.
Vue des Cordilleres... is most notable for its remarkable aquatint plates of scenes in South and Central America, particularly the magnificent double-page plate of the great volcano of Chimborazo in the Andean highlands. Most of these were made from Humboldt's original sketches. His involvement in the publication was close, especially in checking the coloring, which was done under his personal supervision to insure accuracy. These plates beautifully illustrate views, native costumes, and antiquities.
The work is equally important as the first extensive treatment of surviving pre-Columbian and immediately post-Columbian Indian codices. The first publication of any part of the famed Dresden Codex, the most extensive of surviving pre-Columbian codices, is found herein, again with superb colouring. There are also colored prints of the Codex Mendoza and plates drawn from various other important codices. Humboldt's treatment of them is a landmark in the rediscovery of the pre-Columbian civilizations. "Every class of Mexican, Aztec, and Peruvian Antiquity receives in this work the clearest philosophical analysis" (Field).
2 volumes in one, folio, uncut. (22 3/4 x 16 1/8 inches). Half title. Engraved dedication leaf, 69 engraved plates on 68 leaves (27 hand coloured, printed in colors or printed in colors and finished by hand [1 of these double-page], 4 printed in sepia), engraved dedication.
69 engraved plates, of which 24 are in color and 6 in sepia tones.
References:
Field 739; Hill 839; Lipperheide 1630; Palau 117026; Pilling Proof-Sheets 1871; Sabin 33754. Donald Heald.
Publisher: A Paris : Chez F. Schoell, rue des Fosses-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, no. 29
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ISBN-10: N/A
Date Added: 2019-03-07
von Humboldt, Alexander. Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens de l'Amerique. A Paris : Chez F. Schoell, rue des Fosses-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, no. 29. 1813.
von Humboldt, Alexander (1813) Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens de l'Amerique. A Paris : Chez F. Schoell, rue des Fosses-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, no. 29.
von Humboldt, Alexander, Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens de l'Amerique. A Paris : Chez F. Schoell, rue des Fosses-Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, no. 29. 1813.