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Interesting image of a Yucatan Indian smuggler, from Jean Frédéric Maximilien Waldeck's Voyage Pittoresque et Archéologique dans la Province d'Yucatan issued in Paris in 1838.
Waldeck's work was issued in two forms, deluxe (with hand-coloring) and standard (uncolored). Brunet says upon publication the cost was 100 francs for the former and 75 for the latter. The present print comes from the deluxe issue.
The description for plate V (included in the text of the book, and here for illustrative purposes) describes the images as follows:
It is the general costume of all the Indians of Yucatan, without distinction. We see that men are not as pretty as women. The cotton stuffs from which they make their clothes are made in the country itself and are of excellent quality, which makes them last a very long time. A shirt and trousers are worn for two years, provided there is a spare. Well-to-do Indians only keep the palm hat for six months. The sandals (apargates) have from one to four soles, and they only use them on stony paths; usually they hang them around their necks or carry them in their hands. The basket (petaquillo) is made of palm braids; it can be closed, and contains the linen of the Indian and his wife, or merchandise, if he engages in smuggling.
The building that can be seen in the background of the image, on the left, is the prison, located in the public square. The one on the right is the governor's palace.
Lithographs from Waldeck's book a scarce on the market. The complete book sells for in excess of $25,000.
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