A Best-Seller of Mexican History for over 300 Years

In Original Vellum

506.     SOLÍS [RIVADENEYRA], Antonio de. Historia de la conquista de México, Escrita por Don Antonio de Solís, Secretario de S.M., y su Cronista Mayor de las Indias. Corregida, y enmendada en esta última impresión, y adornada con láminas finas. Barcelona: Por los Consortes Sierra, Olivér, y Martí, Plaza de San Jayme, 1789. Vol. I: [32], 1-366 pp., 1 folded map & 1 folded plate; Vol. II:  [1-2] 3-502 pp., 5 plates (3 folded); Vol. III: [1-2] 3-367 [1, blank] pp., 1 folded plate. Total: 8 copper-engraved maps and plates (6 folding), by Pauner. 3 vols., 12mo, original vellum-covered boards, original stitching and ms. titles on spines in sepia ink, edges sprinkled in blue. Fine set, handsome and in original condition.

Maps & Plates:

Map: Untitled map of New Spain north to R. de Palmas and the Gulf of Mexico; above neat line at top right: Tom. I, Pag. 1; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 10.7 cm.

Plate: Isla de Cuba Puerto de Santiago; above neat line at top: Tom. I. Pag. 59; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 16.5 cm. View of the port of Santiago de Cuba with ship and palm tree, from Herrera.

Plate: Bird’s-eye view: A. Tezcuco. B. La Calzada principal C. Quitlavaca...; above neat line at top right: Tom. 2 Pag. 135; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 31.5 cm.

Plate: Title within image: El Grande Templo de Mexico; above neat line at top left: Tom. 2 Pag. 142; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 18 cm. Bird’s-eye view of the main temple of Mexico City, sacrifices being made to Huitzilopochtli (god of the sun and war) and Tlaloc (god of rain).

Plate: Title within image: El Idolo Viztzilipuztli; above neat line at top left: Tom. 2 Pag. 145; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 8 cm. The scene of worship and human sacrifice at an Aztec or Mexican temple is derived from Herrera, in turn from De Bry.

Plate: Untitled view of Hernán Cortés’ capture of Moctezuma, above neat line at top right: Tom. 2 Pag. 211; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 8 cm. Spanish soldier directs a boy to put manacles on the Aztec chief; scene includes armor, chains, feathered headdress and garments, throne, and baton. From Herrera.

Plate: Title within image: Batalla en el Valle De Otumba...; above neat line at top left: Tom. 2 Pag. 486; neat line to neat line: 13.5 cm x 31 cm. View of the Otumba Valley battlefield. From Herrera.

Plate: Retirada de Guatimozen preso por Holguin. Above neat line at top right: Tom. 3, Pag. 298; neat line to neat line: 13.5 x 16.5 cm.

     The most reprinted history of Mexico, the first edition of which was published at Madrid in 1684 and remains in print to this time. Hill (I, p. 278) calls the work “the most popular history of Mexico that had then been written. The sources were the letters of Hernando Cortés, the works of Francisco Lopez de Gómara, Bernal Díaz del Castillo.... The Historia, covering the years between the appointment of Cortés to command the invading force and the fall of the city of Mexico, deservedly ranks as a Spanish prose classic.” Field 1465n. Griffin 2331. Medina, Biblioteca Hispano-Americana 5386. Palau 318624. Sabin 86466.