Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2007 Issue
Rare Mexicana (and American Southwest) from Plaza Books
Signed letter from Mexican hero Benito Juarez.
Item 17 presents one more presidential letter, but now we move to the revolt against dictator Porfirio Diaz. The writer is Francisco Madero, who had been forced into exile by Diaz when he attempted to run against him for the presidency. From exile, he would put together a plan for a new government, and when Diaz could no longer hold off various opposing forces within his country, he agreed to resign in favor of Madero. However, Madero allowed many of the old guard to retain posts in his government, and his attempts at agrarian and labor reform were not sufficient to please many who supported the revolution. Meanwhile, those conservative forces within his government, backed by the U.S. ambassador, plotted his overthrow. Madero was squeezed by both sides, and in 1913, his second year in office, Madero was forced by the conservatives to resign, and shortly thereafter, assassinated. Offered is a love letter from Madero to his new wife, Sara Perez, in 1903. Sara Perez Madero was active with her husband in bringing about the end of the Diaz regime. $4,750.
Item 31 is a look at Mexico shortly after independence. The book is Mexico in 1827 (published in 1828) by British Charge d'Affairs H.G. Ward. The British were interested in mining in Mexico, so Ward was sent to determine the potential. However, he expounds well beyond that topic in describing Mexico at the time. $2,250.
Item 24 is one of the Texas-related broadsides -- El Exmo. Sr. Presidente ... ha decretado lo siguiente. This is a decree concerning expenditures as long as war went on in Texas, dated January 9, 1836, from Miguel Barragan. Barragan was interim president at the time while President and General Santa Anna was up north, putting down the rebellion of the Texans. As we know, after a good start at the Alamo, things went downhill for Santa Anna. $1,500.
Plaza Books may be found online at www.plazabooks.com or reached by telephone at 707-546-3544.
