Mexico - Clavigero, Francesco Saverio The History of Mexico

Mexico - Clavigero, Francesco Saverio The History of Mexico Collected from Spanish and Mexican Historians, from Manuscripts and Ancient Paintings of the Indians ... translated from the original Italian. London: J. Johnson, 1807. Second edition, 2 volumes, 4to, [xxxiv], 440, [441-444 'Posterity of King Motezuma'], 441-476]; [iv], 463; folding map, 25 engraved plates, genealogy at p.240 vol. 1, contemporary tree calf, neatly rebacked, red and green morocco lettering pieces, spine gilt Qty: (2) Note: Second English edition of this comprehensive account of Mexico, its peoples and its natural history, emphasising the importance and value of pre-Hispanic cultures. Clavijero (or Clavigero) was a Mexican Jesuit who came to Italy after the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spanish territory. He had access to many Aztec manuscripts before leaving Mexico which he made considerable use of for his text. As with Las Casas, he also viewed the Spanish conquest as full of atrocities carried out by the Conquistadores. He also distinguished between the different native peoples of the New World, unlike many of his contemporaries. The success of this work was shown by its translation into other languages (English in 1787, Spanish in 1826) and its regular republication. This copy has additional pages in volume 1, p.441-444, entitled Posterity of King Motezuma, not known to Sabin or Palau.