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Potosi' Bolivia Lithographs (Famous Silver Strike)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:175.00 USD Estimated At:350.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Potosi' Bolivia Lithographs (Famous Silver Strike)
SOLD
150.00USD+ (33.75) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2015 Apr 20 @ 16:03UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Two prints of the mountain and village, one is matted. Both show the Montagna del Potosi’ rising precipitously from the flat plano, with the town dwellings scattered at its foot. Numerous windmills can be seen in the background in both drawings. The loose picture measures 7" x 10.” The 2nd print measures 8.5 x 11” and is encased in a wide paper matte. There is some writing in pencil at lower left with dates of “C. Allard, ca. 1680” and “Pieter Schenck, 1702.” These two prints depict the famous “silver mountain” of Bolivia’s fabulous silver strike and the site of legendary riches, which was Potosi’. Located in the southwestern part of the country, local mines and their riches were well known to the native peoples living there. These people were colonized by the Inca, who enslaved them for forced labor in the mines. When the Spanish arrived in 1539 and destroyed the Incan Empire, the wealth of the mines was theirs. According to legend, a native named Diego Huallpa discovered the real wealth of Sumaj Orco (or Cerro Rico), the mountain of silver in 1545. The secret soon got out and one of the conquistadors working the original mines, decided to take a look at Sumaj Orco. He claimed the mountain for himself and on behalf of King Charles the 1st of Spain and 5th of Germany. The wealth of the mine looked limitless, its fame spread, and by 1575 Potosi’ was more populous than many European capitals. At that same time Viceroy (of Peru) Francisco de Toledo began to organize the colony, arrange for the construction of artificial dikes and lagoons to provide water for the city, and make other necessary improvements for more structured living. Churches, convents and seminaries were built, as well as mansions for noblemen and their families, gaming houses and dance halls for the upper echelon of society. Perhaps the most important construction of the time is the Casa de la Moneda (The Spanish Mint) built in 1572, one of only 3 in the Americas in this period. It was designed by architect Salvador de Vila, who also did the mints of Lima and Mexico. Eventually silver production outgrew the original mint and a second Casa de la Moneda was built in 1751, completed in 1773, which had over 200 rooms. Two hundred years later, in 1953, it was converted to a museum. From its most splendorous period in the 16th century, Potosi’ endured civil strife, wars with other countries, and territorial disputes. “The war for independence left Potosí in ruins. Its population dwindled from over 100,000 to fewer than 9000, it was despoiled of its riches which were looted or transported to Spain and other places, and its mining industry was paralyzed. It wasn’t until decades later that it recovered slightly thanks to the international need for tin, which until that time had not been a greatly appreciated metal. In 1850 the mines were reactivated and preference was given to the extraction of tin. With the high prices being paid for this metal worldwide, Potosí became Bolivia’s economic center until the end of the Second World War during which the United States purchased Bolivia’s tin at bargain prices…Mining decreased greatly in the years after the World Wars, leaving Potosí impoverished”[Alura Gonzales[www.boliviabella.com/history-of-potosi.html].

City: Potosi'
State: zBolivia,
Date: c1709

FHWAC#: 64104