The Ancient Cities of the New World.

Henry Rider Haggard's copy and source book for his novel Montezuma's Daughter

The copy of Sir Henry Rider Haggard, with his ownership signature and tipped in illustration of heraldry, which he used as a sourcebook for his novel Montezuma's Daughter. In particular he used the descriptions of Tenochtitlan and Chichen Itza to inform his own descriptions of the court of Montezuma, as well as the description of the Alvarado Massacre in 1520 to inspire a similar scene.

Charnay's first journey in Mexico was made in 1853-59. He subsequently became the best known archaeologist within the Commission Scientifique du Mexique. His main claim to fame is that he was the first person to perceive the cultural unity of Mesoamerica, seeing the Maya and the Mexica of Central Mexico as being part of a super-zone with essentially the same religion, ceremonies, symbols, and gods. Charnay also took advantage of new technology, in the form of the camera, and produced many excellent photographs and illustrations.

First edition in English; 4to (27 x 19 cm); signed on half-title by Henry Rider Haggard, tipped in illustration by Haggard before half-title, frontispiece, numerous in-text engravings, folding map, lightly foxed; publisher's gilt pictorial cloth, spine lettered in gilt, a little rubbed, a very good copy; xxxii, 514 pp.