Antonio de León y Gama, 1792

Discovery of the Aztec Sun Stone and Coatlicue Statue
Antonio de León y Gama, 1792
LEÓN Y GAMA, Antonio de (1735-1802). Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790. Mexico City: Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros, 1792.

First edition of the first detailed study of the Aztec Sun Stone discovered in 1790 in Mexico City. León y Gama was a self-trained Mexican mathematician, astronomer, and anthropologist. In the present work, León y Gama describes the recent discovery of two major archaeological relics in the main plaza of Mexico City: the Aztec "piedra del sol" (sun stone), a massive sacrificial stone and calendar; and a statue of Coatlicue, an Aztec goddess. León y Gama laid out his theories on how the Aztecs measured time and praised Aztec society for their scientific and artistic achievements, a line of thinking consonant with the growing Mexican nationalism in the late 18th century. The work was published by Felipe de Zúñiga y Ontiveros, owner of one of the most important printing establishments in America at the time. Only two first edition copies have sold at auction since 1986. JCB III:3535; Palau y Dulcet (2nd ed.) 134487; Sabin 40059.

Quarto (197 x 140mm). List of subscribers, three folded engraved plates comprising one of the statue of Coatlicue and two of the Sun Stone (short closed tear on front flyleaf, large paper repair to title, small closed tears at folds and old paper repair on plate 1, light spotting throughout). 19th-century mottled sheep, spine gilt (spine rubbed; Zambrano library label on back pastedown).