DESCRIPTION OF THE PANORAMA OF THE SUPERB CITY OF MEXICO, and the Surrounding Scenery, Painted on 2700 Square Feet of Canvas by Robert Burford, Esq. From Drawings Made on the Spot, at the Request of the Mexican Government, By Mr. W. Bullock, Jr. Now Open for Public Inspection at the Rotunda, New York
(New York: By E. Conrad, 1828).
VERY SCARCE, WE KNOW OF NO OTHER COPIES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AND ONLY ONE COPY HAS APPEARED IN THE AUCTION HOUSES IN THE LAST FIVE DECADES. In 1822 British antiquarian, museum showman, and artist William Burford became the first British traveler to visit Mexico since the 1600s. On returning from a six month stay in that newly-independent nation Burford fashioned a compelling ensemble of representations; an illustrated travel narrative, a museum exhibit of contemporary Mexican artifacts, and his magnificent 150 feet long by 18 feet tall panorama of the capital city and it environs.
The panorama toured various cities, such as London, Boston, and New York. This description, with its large folding plate pointing out over sixty features with text descriptions of over 30 of these, was published for the New York exhibit. Item #30638
Very Rare First edition. With the large fold out reproduction of the panorama with the various landmarks and features of the city numbered and captioned. 8o, disbound. 16 pp. Well preserved though spotted and toned, the large folding plate is whole and intact with just a bit of edge wear and a short tear with no loss near the binding stub.