"Viztlipuztli Idolum Mexicanorum", Montanus, Arnoldus

Montanus' work was perhaps the greatest illustrated book on the New World produced in the seventeenth century. It contained over one hundred beautifully engraved plates, views, and maps of North and South America. The plates vividly depict forts, festivals, occupations, Dutch fleets, battles, religious rites, and customs of the native inhabitants. This important work was translated into German by Olivier Dapper, and into English by John Ogilby. Several of the plates were later acquired by Pierre Vander Aa.

A fabulous copper engraving of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war standing on an altar receiving offerings. This is an imaginative European depiction of an Aztec shrine with the deity depicted as half-man and half-beast with a face in its belly. Pagan gods were of considerable interest to Europeans, and much information was sent to the Old World despite Spanish attempts to eradicate the religions.

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Condition: A

A dark impression on paper with a jester watermark.