This is the standard text and facsimile on the Dresden. Thompson was one of the greatest experts on the Maya and for the time, did an excellent job. However as we can now read the glyphs with greater reliability, some of the interpretations are out of date. This should be part of any serious student of Maya Codices, but reference should be made to other more up-to-date titles. Although this is out of print, The Fondo de Cultura Economica (FCE) is due to re-publish soon an updated version with a new commentary.

This commentary is required reading for any student of the Maya codices. It was the best available resource at the time of publication. Even the ideas that are out of fashion by present thinking are worth considering. The facsimile is a full-color reproduction, based off the Förstemann edition, but re-colored by Thompson.