Lorenzo

1746 · 4811 — Madrid: Zuniga 1746. 1st edition. Quarto 23 leaves 168 pp; 4 leaves 96 pp. Both of the superb copper-engraved frontispieces are present. Boturini an Italian who came to Mexico in 1736 from Spain and became enamored of the cult of the Virigin of Guadalupe. He became a hermit on the hill of Tepeyac for a time and also conceived the idea of writing a history of the pre-conquest indians of Mexico. He was fluent in Najuatl travelling around and collecting an amazing coll ection of early and original indian material for a number of years. This excited the suspicion of the Viceroy who had him arrested and sent to the Inquisition in Spain for imprisonment. His ship was captured by English pirates but he was finally put ashore at Gibraltar. His priceless collection was confiscated and dispersed over many years. He was exonerated in Spain and even honored by an official post as Historian of the Indies but never was able to get possession of his collection. This is a very nice copy clean and crisp; the binding looks to be Mexican early 19th century half red leather with decorative flourishes on the spine over black pebbled boards. <br/><br/> Zuniga hardcover books