Codex Osuna, 1878

OSUNA, Mariano Téllez-Girón y Beaufort, duque de (1814-1882). Pintura del gobernador, alcades y regidores de Mexico. Madrid: Manuel G. Hernandez, 1878.

First edition facsimile of the Codex Osuna, a 16th-century Aztec manuscript. Named for the Spanish nobleman in whose library it resided before entering the collection of the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, the Codex Osuna was created in 1565 to document the crimes and thefts of the Spanish government, largely expressed through illustrations with Nahuatl captions, as part of the corruption trial of Viceroy Don Luis de Velasco.

Folio (395 x 270mm). Half title, title printed in red and black, 80 pages of color facsimile of a Mexican manuscript (a bit of light toning). Contemporary mottled calf gilt with tag of binder Jose Perez (corners worn).