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Mexican antiquities from the island of Sacrificious : from excavations made in the year 1840, by Captain Evan Nepean whilst
in command of H.M. Ship Comus.
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Collection Overview
Title:
Mexican antiquities from the island of Sacrificious: from excavations made in the year 1840, by Captain Evan Nepean whilst in command of H.M. Ship ComusMexican antiquities from the island of Sacrificious [i.e. Sacrificios]: from excavations made in the year 1840, by Captain
Evan Nepean whilst in command of H.M. Ship Comus
Creator/Contributor:
Nepean, Evan, creator, artist.Abstract:
Well-executed drawings by Nepean depicting various pre-Colombian antiquities excavated under his supervision on Isla de Sacrificios,
near Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico. Objects depicted include vessels, plates, figurines, musical instruments and other pieces
of pottery.
Date:
1840 (issued)Subject:
n-mx---Archaeology -- Mexico -- Sacrificios Island
Antiquities
Archaeology
Sacrificios Island (Mexico) -- Antiquities
Sacrificios Island (Mexico) -- Antiquities -- Drawings
Mexico -- Sacrificios Island
Note:
Hand-lettered title written on leaf no. 1.
Mounted on title sheet is drawing with the following handwritten caption: Montizuma's [sic] Cup in possession of Lord Amherst,
Montreal, Kent.
Additional hand-written text appearing on title sheet: Vide Robertson's History of America Vol Page.
A few drawings include brief annotations -- e.g. "idol", "musical instruments", "blue paint in above"--But most lack descriptions
Includes 3 blank sheets, each annotated as a numbered "end paper."
Drawings contained in contemporary leather portfolio with hand-written label on front cover: Mexican antiquities.
3 hand-written labels adhered to front pastedown of portfolio: [1] Rear Admiral Evan Nepean; [2] Drawings of antiquities now
in British Museum, from the island of Sacrificios, off Vera Cruz; [3] Rev'd. H. Marshall Jackson, Colbert Pension, Pau.
Drawings and portfolio housed in later custom leather clamshell box designed to resemble a large book. Tooled on hinged side
of box: Mexican Antiquities.
Offprint article laid in to portfolio: An account of certain antiquities in the island of Sacrificios. Communicated to the
Society of Antiquaries by Captain Nepean ... followed by a report upon the examination of them by Samuel Birch, Esq. [published
in vol. XXX of Archaeologia, 1843].
RESTRICTED. Requests for use of original must be approved by the appropriate curator.
Purchase; From Donald Heald ; 2012.
Nepean took command of H.M.S. Comus in 1839 and was employed in protecting British trade in the Gulf of Mexico. While anchored
off of Isla de Sacrificios in 1840, Nepean organized archaeological excavations of the deserted island. Nepean's collection
of approximately 1000 objects unearthed from Sacrificios, along with a collection of his drawings similar to that described
herein, was acquired by the British Museum in 1844.
Mexican antiquities from the island of Sacrificious, BANC PIC 2013.009, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Type:
graphicDrawings.
Drawings.
Watercolors.
Physical Description:
drawing
15 drawings in 1 box : chiefly watercolor on paper, each double-mounted ; larger mounts 62 x 49 cm, box 69 x 55 cm
Language:
English
Origin:
CaliforniaCopyright Note:
RESTRICTED. Requests for use of original must be approved by the appropriate curator.