Lot 344
Stephens, John L.
Auction: 13 January 2010 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan... new edition. London: John Murray, 1842. 2 volumes, 8vo, [x, [4], 424; vii, [2], 7-474], folding map laid down on linen, 68 engraved, wood-engraved or lithographed plates after F. Catherwood, some offset onto text, volume 2 head of spine slightly rubbed; Idem Incidents of travel in Yucatan. London: John Murray, 1843. 2 volumes, 8vo, [xii, 459; xvi, 9-478], 2 folding frontispieces and folding map laid down on linen, 52 engraved plates and plans, some offset onto text, illustrations in the text, uniform contemporary calf, spines gilt, Northern Lighthouse Board stamp at head of spines (4)
Footnote
Note: Stephens and his travelling companion, architect and draftsman Frederick Catherwood, first came across Maya ruins at Copán, having landed in British Honduras (present-day Belize). They went on to Palenque, Uxmal, and according to Stephens, visited a total of 44 sites. Stephens' descriptions of ancient Maya sites, along with the illustrations by Catherwood, were greatly superior to the small amount of information on ancient Mesoamerica previously published. Sabin 91297 & 91299.