550 Engravings and a Colored Map

New Orleans, LA: Armand Hawkins, 1882. 240 by 160mm (9½ by 6¼ inches). Lg. 8vo. 706 pp. Original brown pebbled cloth, gilt stamped central device on front cover. Gilt lettered spine. Small bookplate of F.J. Santa Maria on front pastedown, and small round embossed stamp of F.J. Santa Maria at top of title page. Woodcut frontispiece with a tissue guard. 550 phenomenal engravings (some full page). Mounted at rear is a color printed folding map of Mexico, accompanied with an eight-page index showing the ​“Railroads, States and Territories, Lakes and Rivers, Islands, Mountains, etc. Together with Every Post Office, Railroad Station or Town…” 

In general, very good. Cloth faded and minor rubbing at bottom edges; ca. 3‑inch end paper split at gutter; light damage to bottom of tissue guard; tiny half inch tear to edge of map (not affecting map itself). 

History of the Republic of Mexico from before the Conquistadors to 1882. Focus of the book is concentrated on the 19th century detailing the wars of Mexico, including their war for Independence, and the wars with Texas and the United States. The 550 engravings are beautiful as is the colored folding map of Mexico. 

The book covers extensive topics, a sampling of chapters: The Aztec Empire before the Conquest — Manners, customs, and social conditions of the Aztecs — Ancient monuments of Mexico — History of the Conquest by Cortes — Mexico under the Spaniards — The Mexican Revolution — History of the Mexican Republic — Causes of the Mexican War — Imports, exports, duties and values of coins, and so on and so forth. 

Scarce in the trade with no other copies currently offered for sale. Last auction record per Rarebookhub was 1913.