Comprised of 2 volumes: Mexico, 1858-1861: Recuardos e Impresiones de Viaje. Text volume. 26.5x19 cm. (10½x7½"). * Album de Fotografias. With photograph plates. 26.5x18.5 cm. (10½x11¼"). Each in brown cloth with dust jacket. Edition of 1500 copies distributed by the Banco de Mexico.

Scarce complete set of text and album volumes of this important publication of Charnay's photographs and travel narrative of Mexican archaeological ruins. The text is a recent Spanish translation by Victor Jimenez of Charnay's Cites et Ruines Americaines (Paris, 1863). The photographic album volume reproduces in high quality plates the amazing photographs by Charnay depicting ruins at Mitla, Palenque, Izamal, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal. Charnay's photographic work stands on its own today, for its successful intuitive response to the beauty and magnificence of the Meso-American monuments, and for its historical value in the use of photography in the aid of research and science. "Charnay remains the greatest of the Central American archaeological photographers for the timing, quality, and impact of his work. Operating with only the visual precedent of Catherwood, Charnay overcame awesome difficulties to produce a body of photographs that, in turn, set the scientific standard for all later researchers" -Davis, Desire Charnay, Expeditionary Photographer, p. 104.