Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks.

  • Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Peruvian antiquities / by Mariano Edward Rivero and John James von Tschudi ; translated by Francis L. Hawks. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    rimes of tlie Incas wliich we could collect, and giving orders for the designing and painting of all those which were in the possession of individuals, whether Peruvians or foreigners. Having finished this toilsome work, we sought, of the Peru- vian government, aid to publish it: not being able alone to undertake an enterprise so expensive. The sum which was granted us was so small that it did not sufiice even to make copies of some of the plates, and consequently the manuscript remained in its case until 1850. Determined that, even at the cost of some sacrifices, Peru and other nations shoidd not be deprived of the collection we had made, which gives, to the first named at least, an accurate idea of the power of its monarchs and the industry of its subjects, we wrote to Don Francisco de Eivero, charge d'affaires from the Peruvian Kepublic near the court of her Britannic Majesty, that it should be published on an agree- ment made with Dr. Von Tschudi. How great were those pecuniary sacrifices, the reader may easily determine by a glance at the beautiful volume of plates which accompanies the text.* After the preparation of the plates had been commenced by one of the most distinguished artists of Vienna, we were informed that he could not proceed with the impression, because of the increased price both of paper and labor, aris- ing from the political troubles of the past year, which had produced a great reaction in all the kingdoms of Europe. * An atlas of fifty-eight large plates, most of them colored, and all beautifully executed, accompanies the original work. From this, our illustrations have been taken, in a sufficient number, we hope, to make plain the text when the aid of the pencil is required. To have copied all, would have made our English version as costly as the original, and placed it beyond the reach of most readers.—[Translator.]