Humboldt, Alexander Von, and Aimé Bonpland | "The most beautiful and generally interesting of all Humboldt's works"

Humboldt, Alexander Von, and Aimé Bonpland
Vues des Cordillères et Monumens des Peuples Indigènes de l'Amérique. Paris: [de l'imprimerie de J.H. Stône] chez F. Schoell, 1810

2 volumes in one, folio, uncut (578 x 410 mm). Half-title, engraved dedication leaf, 69 engraved plates on 68 leaves, 27 of which hand-colored, printed in colors, or printed in colors and finished by hand (1 of these double-page), 4 printed in sepia, engraved dedication. Expertly bound to style in half morocco preserving original brown paper-covered boards, spine gilt-lettered.

One of the great monuments to scientific exploration — "The most beautiful and generally interesting of all Humboldt's works" (Sabin)

This work is one of the most important publications to result from Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland's expedition to America in 1799-1804. During their extensive trip, the great German scientist and the botanist gathered a mass of material relating to all aspects of the New World; 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, with the present volume being the first major work from the series to appear.

Vue des Cordillères... is most notable for its aquatint plates of scenes in South and Central America, particularly the 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. The plates strikingly render 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. 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).

The present copy includes the last twenty plates, which are frequently lacking. It does not include the 16pp. introduction by Humboldt, dated 1813, which seems to be an indication that the present copy is an early issue.

REFERENCE
Field 739; Hill 839; Lipperheide 1630; Palau 117026; Pilling, Proof-Sheets 1871; Sabin 33754

Condition Report:
Condition as described in catalogue entry.