Catherwood, Frederick

Views of Ancient Monuments in Central America[,] Chiapas and Yucatan. [London: F. Catherwood, 1844]



Folio (21 x 14 1/4 in.; 533 x 362 mm). Lithographed map showing the sites of the ruins and monuments visited by Catherwood and Stephens, letterpress dedication leaf to John L. Stephens, 24 pages of letterpress text, chromolithographed title by Owen Jones and 26 very fine handcolored lithographed plates after Frederick Catherwood by Andrew Picken, William Parrott, Thomas Shotter Boys, and others (each ca. 12 1/4 x 16 3/8 in.; 312 x 418 mm), or the reverse save for 2 smaller views mounted on a single card), printed on heavy stock and mounted on card within ink-ruled frames; lacking letterpress title, map slightly chipped at corners. Plates loose as issued, text sewn in modern green cloth over glazed yellow boards. Plates and text contained in a half green morocco portfolio, with ribbon ties, by Sangorski in the style of the publisher's original portfolio.

Purchased from Francis Edwards, 1959 (invoice laid in)

Palau 50290; Sabin 11520; Tooley 133; not in Abbey

Folio (21 x 14 1/4 in.; 533 x 362 mm). Lithographed map showing the sites of the ruins and monuments visited by Catherwood and Stephens, letterpress dedication leaf to John L. Stephens, 24 pages of letterpress text, chromolithographed title by Owen Jones and 26 very fine handcolored lithographed plates after Frederick Catherwood by Andrew Picken, William Parrott, Thomas Shotter Boys, and others (each ca. 12 1/4 x 16 3/8 in.; 312 x 418 mm), or the reverse save for 2 smaller views mounted on a single card), printed on heavy stock and mounted on card within ink-ruled frames; lacking letterpress title, map slightly chipped at corners. Plates loose as issued, text sewn in modern green cloth over glazed yellow boards. Plates and text contained in a half green morocco portfolio, with ribbon ties, by Sangorski in the style of the publisher's original portfolio.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catherwood's first and only book, limited to an edition of 300 copies. Between 1839 and 1841, Catherwood accompanied John Lloyd Stephens on two expeditions to Honduras, Guatemala, and Yucatan and he produced hundreds of drawings, many of which were reproduced as text illustrations in Stephens's Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan (1841) and Incidents of Travel in Yucatan (1843). For Views of Ancient Monuments in Central America, Catherwood selected his best drawings for transfer to lithographic plates, and these have become the most celebrated illustrations of the Mayan civilization. Most copies of the work were issued with the lithographs uncolored and unmounted.