Antique 1881 CORTES Book Discoverers & Conquerers Pictorial Gilt Cloth D. Lothrop Boston Illustrated Victorian Decor

CORTES: Or the Discovery, Conquest and More Recent History of Mexico Edited by Fred H. Allen · D. Lothrop & Company, Boston · 1881 Part of the "Discoverers and Conquerers" biography series A striking piece of Victorian publisher's binding — a vividly decorated pictorial cloth cover in burnt orange and black, stamped with a gilt-titled banner, trailing leaf vines, a red-ink sailing ship medallion, and a map of the Americas. The spine carries matching decorative stamping and the series title. Inside: a full-page frontispiece portrait of Fernando Cortes in armor, plus several in-text wood-engraved illustrations, including "Colossal Head at Izamal," "Ancient Building at Yucatan," and a vignette of "The Virgin of Guadalupe." The text traces Cortes's life from his birth in Medellín, Spain, through his education, voyage to Hispaniola, and the conquest of Mexico. A lovely period ownership signature graces the front free endpaper: "Geo. G. Johnson, 1888" — placing this copy in a reader's hands just seven years after publication. Condition: Antique, showing expected wear for its age — chipping and fraying to the cloth at the spine head and tail, bumped corners, and scattered foxing/toning to the text block (typical for 1880s paper stock). Text complete and legible throughout, binding sound and holding. The cover artwork remains bold and vibrant — a real display piece. A wonderful addition to any Victorian decor collection, history library, or as a gift for lovers of exploration-era Americana. From the Chapter & Vintage collection — old things, new chapters. Carefully packed and shipped with full insurance.