Despatches written during the Conquest of Mexico
Hernán Cortés, 1547-1606
Details
Despatches written during the Conquest of Mexico
Hernán Cortés, 1547-1606
CORTÉS, Hernán (1485-1547). Praeclara … de Nova Maris Oceani Hyspania Narratio. [And:] Tertia Ferdinandi Cortesii . . . in nova maris oceani Hyspania generalis praefecti preclara narratio. Nuremberg: Freidrich Peypus, March 1524. Second letter with full-page woodcuts of the papal arms and portrait pf Pope Clement VII; integral blank H8 present. Includes Peter Martyr's De Rebus et insulis (his summary of the lost first Cortés letter) as an appendix. Third letter repeats full-page woodcut arms and incorporates a portrait of King Charles on title-page. [Bound after:] “Di Fernando Cortese la seconda [-terza and -quarta] relatione della Nuova Spagna,” and “Relatione della citta de Temistitan,” being leaves 225-296 plus two additional extracted leaves from another copy of Giovanni Battista RAMUSIO (1485-1557), Viaggi. Includes the full-page woodcut of an Aztec temple and the full-page woodcut map of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City). [Bound after]: PORCACCHI, Tomaso (1530-1585). L’Isole piu famose del mondo. Venice: Simon Galignani, 1605. With engraved architectural title-page and 48 engraved maps within text.
A substantial sammelband containing the first Latin editions of Cortés's Second and Third Letters (Nuremberg, 1524), united with works by Ramusio and Porcacchi to form a coherent assemblage on the discovery, conquest, and representation of Mexico.
The Nuremberg printing contains Peter Martyr’s account of the voyages from Cuba, considered to paraphrase a lost first letter from Cortés, and the second and third letters to Charles V describing the conquest of the Aztec empire. It is an “astounding tale of a vast civilization, previously unknown to Europeans” (Reese & Miles). This first Latin edition is sometimes found with accompanying maps, not present here. The visualization of Tenochtitlan is instead present in maps in both the Porcacchi and Ramusio.
The Second Letter contains Cortés’s description of Tenochtitlan, Montezuma's court, and the establishment of "New Spain," while the Third Letter recounts the siege and capture of the city. Although the Second Letter is encountered with some frequency, the Third is considerably scarcer, making complete copies of the two letters together particularly desirable.
Cortes references: Church 53-54; Harrisse 125-126; Hill 377, 378; Sabin 16947, 16948; Streeter sale 190; Streeter, Americana Beginnings 7; Reese & Miles, Creating America 9.
Four works bound together in one volume, folio (302 x 204mm). Illustrations described above by individual title. (Blank corner of 2G2 restored, lower corner of penultimate leaf restored with portion of printer’s mark in facsimile. Lower blank edge of leaf with Mexico City map restored. Some very occasional pale dampstain or minor staining. Ownership inscription deleted on first title-page.)17th century vellum over boards (recased, a few small wormtrails near spine).
Hernán Cortés, 1547-1606
CORTÉS, Hernán (1485-1547). Praeclara … de Nova Maris Oceani Hyspania Narratio. [And:] Tertia Ferdinandi Cortesii . . . in nova maris oceani Hyspania generalis praefecti preclara narratio. Nuremberg: Freidrich Peypus, March 1524. Second letter with full-page woodcuts of the papal arms and portrait pf Pope Clement VII; integral blank H8 present. Includes Peter Martyr's De Rebus et insulis (his summary of the lost first Cortés letter) as an appendix. Third letter repeats full-page woodcut arms and incorporates a portrait of King Charles on title-page. [Bound after:] “Di Fernando Cortese la seconda [-terza and -quarta] relatione della Nuova Spagna,” and “Relatione della citta de Temistitan,” being leaves 225-296 plus two additional extracted leaves from another copy of Giovanni Battista RAMUSIO (1485-1557), Viaggi. Includes the full-page woodcut of an Aztec temple and the full-page woodcut map of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City). [Bound after]: PORCACCHI, Tomaso (1530-1585). L’Isole piu famose del mondo. Venice: Simon Galignani, 1605. With engraved architectural title-page and 48 engraved maps within text.
A substantial sammelband containing the first Latin editions of Cortés's Second and Third Letters (Nuremberg, 1524), united with works by Ramusio and Porcacchi to form a coherent assemblage on the discovery, conquest, and representation of Mexico.
The Nuremberg printing contains Peter Martyr’s account of the voyages from Cuba, considered to paraphrase a lost first letter from Cortés, and the second and third letters to Charles V describing the conquest of the Aztec empire. It is an “astounding tale of a vast civilization, previously unknown to Europeans” (Reese & Miles). This first Latin edition is sometimes found with accompanying maps, not present here. The visualization of Tenochtitlan is instead present in maps in both the Porcacchi and Ramusio.
The Second Letter contains Cortés’s description of Tenochtitlan, Montezuma's court, and the establishment of "New Spain," while the Third Letter recounts the siege and capture of the city. Although the Second Letter is encountered with some frequency, the Third is considerably scarcer, making complete copies of the two letters together particularly desirable.
Cortes references: Church 53-54; Harrisse 125-126; Hill 377, 378; Sabin 16947, 16948; Streeter sale 190; Streeter, Americana Beginnings 7; Reese & Miles, Creating America 9.
Four works bound together in one volume, folio (302 x 204mm). Illustrations described above by individual title. (Blank corner of 2G2 restored, lower corner of penultimate leaf restored with portion of printer’s mark in facsimile. Lower blank edge of leaf with Mexico City map restored. Some very occasional pale dampstain or minor staining. Ownership inscription deleted on first title-page.)17th century vellum over boards (recased, a few small wormtrails near spine).
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