Curious and Scarce Imprints from South America by Libreria de Antano
Some curious and scarce imprints from South America.
By Michael Stillman
Libreria de Antano of Buenos Aires has released a most interesting and unusual collection: South America -- A Selection of Curious and Scarce Imprints Mostly from Small Provincial Presses. There aren't many items you will recognize here, although people with an interest in early Latin American history will know the topics and conflicts described. The internal issues south of the U.S. border may not have regularly penetrated consciousness north of that line, but there was a vibrant history being played out across the southern continent. Small pieces of that history are captured in this list.
These items were written in the Spanish language. Fortunately for this reader, Libreria de Antano also provides descriptions in English. We cannot provide prices as they are not listed. Here are a few samples of these "curious" items:
A 1679 edict from the King of Spain ordering the liberation of Indian slaves, as well as their children and descendants. African slaves did not yet fare so well, but it was a start.
The American Revolution opened the door to greater free trade in the Americas. However, this did not eliminate such issues as smuggling on the seas and land. This 1786 document prescribes rules for impounding and later distributing contraband seized from smugglers.
In the time of Napoleon, the Spanish King was seriously weakened and even detained by the French. This circular issued by councilmen from Mexico City in 1808 proclaims their loyalty to the Spanish King. The Mexican people may have been loyal to Spain vis-a-vis the French, but the first attempt at revolution by the indigenous people would come just two years later, and the final overthrow of Spain about a decade after that.
In the 19th century, two-thirds of Mexican cropland was devoted to growing corn. This 1851 report, published in Chile, tells about the origin of corn, its history, cultivation, and other information.
If your preference is peanuts, there's an item on peanut growing in America. It provides historical and botanical data about a plant that was little known at the time (1800).
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Curious and Scarce Imprints from South America by Libreria de Antano
This publication tells all about corn in Mexico.
Vicente Rocafuerte was an early Ecuadorian president. He participated in the revolution against Spain and the battle for independence from Colombia. Rocafuerte served as president from 1834-1839, and for years bounced back and forth between having a competitive and allied relationship with Juan Flores, another early Ecuadorian leader. Offered are three Quito imprints, from 1835-38, expressing Rocafuerte's point of view. In one he warns against "the evil ones, this small number of corrupted beings, professional rebels..." In the others he attacks a rival as a traitor. Rocafuerte seems to have been a decent president, at least by the standards of the times, though he was often consumed by power.
A Colombian church publication from 1847 calls the faithful to confess their sins at Lent, and complains of the lack of religiosity of the times. Was there ever a time when one generation didn't complain about the lax standards of the next?
There was an epidemic of cholera in southern Peru in the mid-19th century. Dr. Jose Cano offers some remedies, mostly based on the consumption of alcohol.
Libreria de Antano may be reached by email at books@millic.com.ar or by phone at (5411) 4822-7178.
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