Below you find a selected list of books on Pre-Columbian topics. Comments are based on my own evaluation. You can order directly through the links.
Books about the Maya and other Precolumbian cultures
Below you find a selected list of books on Pre-Columbian topics. Comments are based on my own evaluation. You can order directly through the links.
Peter Harrison
List Price: $60.00; Amazon price: $42.00
Hardcover - 208 pages (July 1, 1999)
Thames & Hudson; Dimensions: 0.87x10.14x7.77
ISBN: 0500050945
.
Richard E. W. Adams
List Price: $34.95; Amazon price: $24.47
Hardcover; Univ of Oklahoma Pr
April 1999
280 pages; Dimensions: 1.06x9.57x6.43
ISBN: 0806130768
.
Andrew Coe
List Price: $19.95; Amazon price: $15.96
Paperback; Moon Pubns
450 pages; 1 Ed edition (October 1998)
Dimensions: 0.74x8.38x5.43
ISBN: 1566911052
***** excellent travel guide to the sites in Mexico.
Victoria Reifler Bricker, Eleuterio Poot Yah, Ofelia Dzul De Poot
List Price: $65.00
Paperback; Univ. of Utah Press
November 1998
ISBN: 0874805694
*** Specialist book, the most
comprehensive dictionary of a northern Maya language you can buy.
Grant D. Jones
Price information not available
Hardcover (December 1998)
ISBN: 0804733171
*** Any comments on this one?
Stephen D. Houston (Editor)
Price information not available
Hardcover (November 1998)
Dumbarton Oaks Pub Service
ISBN: 0884022544
*** Specialist book.
Timothy Laughton
List Price: $27.50; Amazon price: $19.25
Hardcover; Stewart Tabori & Chang
144 pages (September 1998); Dimensions: 0.66x10.36x10.20
ISBN: 1556708238
**** Nice introductory book, lavishly illustrated with 200 full color pictures.
Hohmann, Hasso
DEM 78.-; US $ 48.-; ATS 550.-
168 pp., 183 drawings and plans, 54 b/w photos
Hardcover. Academic Publishers, J. Loserthg. 16, A 8010
Graz, Austria.
November 1998
ISBN: 3-901519-05-X .
*** Specialist book.
Mercedes de la Garza and about 20 other eminent Maya specialists
List Price: $85.00; Amazon Price: $59.50
Hardcover, Rizzoli Book Store
800 pages, to be published October 1998
ISBN: 0500050929
***** Looks like it should be an exellent exhibtion catalogue from the
exhibition at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Italy.
Richard F. Townsend (Editor)
List Price: $50.00; Amazon Price: $35.00
Hardcover; Publisher: Thames & Hudson
288 pages, to be published Sept. 1998.
ISBN: 0500050929
**** Looks like it should be another exellent exhibition catalogue.
Armand J. Labbe, Warwick Bray, Michael C. Carlos Museum
Price information not available, listed as $35.00
Hardcover; "normal" book size (10" high)
to be published Sept. 1998.
ISBN: 0295977558
**** Looks like yet another good exhibtion catalogue.
Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera, Kathleen Berrin (Editor)
List Price: $45.00; Amazon Price: 31.50
Hardcover - 216 pages; Thames & Hudson
Dimensions: 0.98x11.34x8.93
ISBN: 0500018022
**** And yet another good exhibition catalogue.
160 masterpieces from Lima's famed Larco Collection. 210 illustrations, 180 in color.
Michael D. Coe, Justin Kerr
List Price: $75.00; Amazon Price: $52.50
Hardcover; Publisher: Harry N Abrams
Dimensions: 1.22x13.04x9.97
ISBN: 0810919885
**** Nice coffeetable book, has less substance than other books such as "Painting the Maya Univers" or "Blood of Kings". Still a nice book to have. 240 pages, 280 illustrations, 117 full color.
Linda Schele, Peter Mathews, Justin Kerr
List Price: $40.00; Amazon Price: $28.00
Publisher: C. Scribner's
Hardcover; Dimensions: 1.33x9.57x7.68
ISBN: 068480106X
****1/2 Another one of Linda Schele's classics, this time with Peter Mathews, a must for every library about the Maya. 448 pages, some center color plates like "Forrest of Kings".
Linda Schele, Jorge Perez De Lara (Photographer)
List Price: $49.95; Amazon Price: $34.97
Hardcover - 184 pages (April 1998) Alti Pub; Dimensions: 0.82x14.53x8.21
ISBN: 1883051169
*****? I haven't gotten it yet, but looks like it should
be a very nice book. 195 color photos.
Victoria R. Bricker, Gabrielle Vail
Price: $42.00
Hardcover; Published by Tulane Univ Middle
Publication date: April 1998
ISBN: 0939238942
*** Papers on the Madrid codex. For specialists.
Joyce Kelly, Jerry Kelly (Photographer)
List Price: $22.95; Amazon Price: $18.36
Paperback, 384 pages
Published by Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd)
Publication date: October 1993; Dimensions: 0.98x9.06x6.05
ISBN: 0806125853
**** The best guidebook for archaeological sites in Yucatan, lists many sites, gives star ratings to sites. Some b&w photographs, but you don't buy this book for the photographs.
Joyce Kelly, Jerry Kelly (Photographer)
List Price: $22.95; Amazon Price: $18.36
Paperback, 352 pages (also available as hardcover)
Published by Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd)
Publication date: October 1996; Dimensions: 1.02x9.04x5.95
ISBN: 0806128615
**** Excellent guidebook for archaeological sites in the Southern Maya area, i.e. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador. Companion to above book.
Michael D. Coe
List Price: $16.95; Amazon Price: $13.56
Paperback, 224 pages. Published by Thames & Hudson
Publication date: August 1993
ISBN: 0500277168
**** Concise introductory book on the Maya (complemented by another book
on the other Mesoamerian cultures). Recommended for those
who want to read a short book.
Robert J. Sharer
List Price: $29.95; Amazon Price: $23.96
Paperback,892 pages; Published by Stanford Univ Press
Publication date: September 1994; Dimensions: 1.70x9.27x7.10
ISBN: 0804723109
***** Very thorough introductory book on the Maya, lots of
information on art, sites, history, etc.
Also available as hardcover).
Michael D. Coe
List Price: $14.95; Amazon Price: $11.96
Paperback Published by Thames & Hudson
Publication date: August 1993; Dimensions: 0.92x9.09x6.13
ISBN: 0500277214
**** Nice account of the history of the decipherment of the Maya Hieroglyphs, giving a somewhat personal viewpoint.
Linda Schele, David Freidel
List Price: $17.95; Amazon Price: $14.36
Paperback - 542 pages Rep edition (January 1992)
Quill; Dimensions: 1.18x9.94x6.98
ISBN: 0688112048
****1/2 One of Linda Schele's classics, with David Freidel, a must for every library about the Maya.
David Freidel, Linda Schele, Joy Parker, Justin Kerr, MacDuff Everton
List Price: $15.00; Amazon Price: $12.00
Paperback Reissue edition (February 1995)
Quill; Dimensions: 1.40x10.02x7.01
ISBN: 0688140696
**** Examines the myths and the cosmos of the Maya.
Illustrated with b&w line drawings.
Dorie Reents-Budet, Michael P. Mezzatesta, Linda Schele
List Price: $42.95; Amazon Price: $34.36
Paperback - 381 pages (February 1994)
Duke Univ Pr (Trd); Dimensions: 1.15x10.98x9.48
ISBN: 082231438X
***** Exhibition catalogue. Excellent book with splendid photographs, and many indept analysis of the vessels. A must for every library.
Linda Schele, Mary Ellen Miller
Our Price: $29.95
Paperback (May 1992)
G. Braziller Inc.; Dimensions: 0.86x9.92x9.98
ISBN: 0807612782
***** Exhibition catalogue. Excellent book with splendid photographs, and many provoking new interpretations. A must for every library. Backordered.
John F. Harris, Stephen K. Stearns
University of Pennsylvania, 1997
ISBN: 0924171413
**** Introduction to Maya hieroglyphic writing.
Availability: This title is out of print.
Margot Blum Schevill, Christopher H. Lutz (Designer)
Amazon Price: $29.95
Paperback - 295 pages (October 1993)
Univ of Texas Pr; Dimensions: 1.27x11.83x8.32
ISBN: 0292776659
**** Nice book about Maya textiles of Guatemala.
Specialist books on the Maya
Justin Kerr
Published by Kerr Associates 14 W. 17th St. New York, NY 10011 USA
ISBN: 0962420840
Karen Bassie-Sweet
Price: $38.95
Hardcover, 245 pages; Published by Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Txt)
Publication date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0806128291
*** 245 pages, 67 diagrams/line drawings (b&w). Scholarly text.
William M. Ringle, Thomas Cedric Smith-Stark
Price: $35.00
Hardcover. Published by Tulane Univ Middle
Publication date: December 1996
ISBN: 0939238934
*** Indispensable for serious scholars. Contains Windows CD-ROM.
Stephen L. Whittington (Editor), David M. Reed (Editor)
Price: $49.95
Hardcover, Published by Smithsonian Inst Press
Publication date: May 1, 1997
ISBN: 1560986840
**1/2 Papers on skeletal studies. 290 pages, 17 essays.
Michael D. Coe
Price: $25.00
Hardcover (June 1975) Dumbarton Oaks Pub Service
ISBN: 0884020630
**1/2 These are not photographs, this are large scale drawings of various vases from Dumbarton oaks. You will find
nicer reproductions of many of them in the other books that
deal with Maya vessels. However, these are single leaf large
format pictures, suitable for putting up as picture on the wall.
Victoria R. Bricker, Gabrielle Vail
Hardcover Published by Tulane Univ Middle
Publication date: March 1998
ISBN: 0939238942
*** Papers on the Madrid codex. For specialists.
Ian Graham, Eric Von Euw
Paperback; Published by Harvard Univ Press, Peabody Museum
Publication date: January 1998
ISBN: 0873658213
*** Essential for the archive of the serious student of Maya hieroglyphic writing. Printing quality not that good.
Paul Gendrop
Price: $60.00
Paperback Published by Labyrinthos
Publication date: March 1998
ISBN: 0911437223
*** About the architecture in Yucatan.
Michael D. Coe
List Price: $16.95; Amazon Price: $13.56
Paperback, 215 pages Published by Thames & Hudson
Publication date: February 1994
ISBN: 0500277222
**** Concise introduction to the Pre-columbian cultures of Mesoamerica (does not include the Maya, complements the book on the Maya)
Michael D. Coe (Editor), Justin Kerr (Photographer), Bruce M. White (Photographer), Linda Schele, F. Kent Reilly
List Price: $75.00; Amazon Price: $52.50
Hardcover, 344 pages
Published by Art Museum at Princeton University
Publication date: March 1996; Dimensions: 1.35x11.35x11.95
ISBN: 0810963116
***** Exhibition catalogue, splendid book (photographs); contains articles with the latest findings about the Olmecs (was available as paperback, but out of stock)
Elizabeth P. Benson (Editor), Beatriz De LA Fuente (Editor)
List Price: $80.00; Amazon Price: $56.00
Hardcover - 288 pages (October 1996)
Harry N Abrams; Dimensions: 1.02x12.88x9.87
ISBN: 0810963280
****1/2 Exhibition catalogue, very good book (photographs of 120 pieces) with articles about latest findings about the Olmecs. Though there is some overlap with the above book, it's still worth getting both.
Kathleen Berrin (Editor), Esther Pasztory (Editor)
Hardcover; 288 pages
ISBN: 0500277672
Availability: This title is out of print. Although it is no longer available from the publisher, Amazon will query the network of used bookstores for you and send an update within one to two weeks.
****1/2 Seems to have been an exhibition catalogue, excellent book with splendid photographs. Too bad it's out of print.
However, it seems you still can get the paperback from
the Micheal C. Carlos Museum bookstore at Emory University.
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, Eduardo M. Moctezuma
Price: $75.00
Hardcover - 239 pages (November 1990)
Rizzoli Bookstore; Dimensions: 1.01x12.15x9.43
ISBN: 0847811980
??? I expect this to be a large picture book.
Esther Pasztory
List Price: $49.95; Amazon Price: $34.97
Hardcover - 304 pages (April 1997)
Univ of Oklahoma Pr (Trd); Dimensions: 1.04x10.35x7.27
ISBN: 080612847X
??? Should probably give a good overview of the latest about Teotihuacan.
Richard F. Townsend
List Price: $16.95; Amazon Price: $13.56
Paperback Rep edition (August 1993)
Thames & Hudson; Dimensions: 0.60x9.47x6.26
ISBN: 0500277206
**** Good book introducing the Aztecs. The usual standard of a Thames&Hudson book.
John M.D. Pohl, Angus McBride, M. D. Pohl
List Price: $12.95; Amazon Price: $10.36
Paperback - 47 pages Reprint edition (June 1995)
Osprey Pub Co; Dimensions: 0.21x9.78x7.23
ISBN: 1855321599
??? Any good?
Michael E. Moseley
List Price: $19.95; Amazon Price: $15.96
Paperback Rep edition (August 1993)
Thames & Hudson; Dimensions: 0.95x10.01x6.93
ISBN: 0500277230
**** Good book summarizing the latest reseach of the
South American cultures, mainly in Peru and Bolivia. I.e. Chavin, Tiahuanaco, Moche, Sican, Inca etc. It does not deal with the cultures of Columbia.
Richard L. Burger
List Price: $29.95; Amazon Price: $23.96
Paperback Reprint edition (May 1995)
Thames & Hudson; Dimensions: 0.76x10.56x8.54
ISBN: 0500278164
**** Good book summarizing the findings at Chavin. The usual standard of a Thames&Hudson book. Hardcover out of print.
Walter Alva, Christopher B. Donnan
Price: $35.00
Paperback English edition (September 1993)
Univ California Press; Dimensions: 0.78x11.11x8.58
ISBN: 0930741307
***** Exhibition catalogue. Splendid book summarizing the findings at Sipan. Nice photographs and reconstructions (same or similar to the National Geographic ones).
Hardcover, 50$,
Spanish edition Hardcover, 40$,
Spanish edition Paperback, 25$
Evan Hadingham
List Price: $21.95; Amazon Price: $17.56
Paperback; April 1988
Univ. of Oklahoma Press; Dimensions: 0.91x9.19x7.43
ISBN: 0806121300
***Decent book (no UFO stuff) about Nazca and its lines. 307 pages, with mostly b&w photographs and line drawings.
Anthony Aveni (Editor)
List Price: $60.00
Hardcover (January 1991)
Amer. Philosophical Society
ISBN: 0871691833
**Specialist book about the Nazca lines.
