TORQUEMADA Juan de Primera [-tercera] parte de los veinte y un libros rituales y monarchia Indiana, con el origen y guerras, de los Indios occidentales, de sus poblaçones, descrubrimiento, conquista, conversion y otras cosas maravillosas de la mesma tierra.

Alden-Landis, 725/195 ; Brunet, V, 886 ; Burden, 140 (p. 169) ; John Carter Brown, 1723/ 339 ; Leclerc, Bibliotheca Americana (1867), 1476 (correct collation) ; Medina, IV, 2491 (erroneous collation) ; Palau, XXIII, 335033 ; Sabin, 96212.

Second and best edition, revised by Barcia, of this highly important work on Mexican history (first edition Madrid 1615).

“The present edition, which is edited by Barcia, is more highly prized that the first. The first volume treats of the Indians of new Spain and of their origin ; of the customs of the kingdoms of Mexico, Tezcuco and other provinces now included in the boundaries of Mexico, together with the history of the conquest by the Spaniards. The second volume contains a comparison of the customs of the Mexicans with those of the nations of antiquity. The third relates to ecclesiastical affairs, including the lives of many members of the order of Franciscans to which the author belonged. The Monarchia Indiana has been pronounced the most complete in respect to the antiquity of Mexico of any hitherto published. ‘The author resided in Mexico from his youth to his death; knew the Mexican language well, conversed with the Mexicans for upwards of fifty years, collected a great number of ancient pictures and manuscripts, and labored at his work for more than twenty years’… No work has been more consulted, and copied” (JCB).

The illustration comprises an allegorical title (repeated) engraved by Irala and a fine engraved worldmap. This worldmap, listed by Burden under number 140, was first used in 1601 to illustrate the work by Herrera y Tordesillas. It contains the famous ‘Line of Tordesilla’ showing the demarcation between the Spanish and the Portuguese possessions in the New World. This map, printed from the original copperplate, contains a diagram of climatic zones in the lower left. The other three similar maps mentioned by Burden are made from new engravings, reduced in size.

Good copy, albeit some slight shaving to headlines and a light waterstain to volume II.