MAILLARD, Nicholas Doran (19th Century).
The History of the Republic of Texas, from the Discovery of the Country to the Present Time.
London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1842. First Edition.

PROVENANCE: Salford Borough Royal Museum & Library (blindstamp on each page).

Comparable: Hidmann Auctions, 2013 - $5,000

8vo (8 1/2" x 5 1/4"). Lithographed folding map "Boundaries of Texas. Political, Conventional, and Natural" handcolored in outline; map laid down on archival tissue, repair to one fold separation, small separation at fold interstices not affecting map, title-page and first page of preface chipped along fore-edge, tears to upper right margins of pp. 197-200 touching 2-3 text lines, early tape repair to internal tear along bottom of p. 449, fore-edge of p. 159-60 trimmed, those of pp. 161-66 cropped costing text in lower half of each page; pp. 167-72 torn touching a dozen lines on each page; losses to corners of pp. 173-75, a few other short marginal tears. Modern half biscuit calf over marbled boards, black lettering piece.

"THE MOST VITRIOLIC DENUNCIATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS [comprising] a compendium of everything bad that could be claimed about Texas and Texans of those times" (Jenkins). Unlike the Rev. Newell, Maillard uncharitably denounces Texas as "a country filled with habitual liars, drunkards, blasphemers, and slanderers, sanguinary gamesters and cold-blooded assassins" (p.206). His diatribes extend to Stephen Austin, whom he characterizes as "the prince of hypocrites" (p. 30) and to James Bowie as a "reckless drunkard" with a "debauched and sanguinary mind" (pp. 103-104). A London barrister, Maillard arrived in Texas in 1839 where he briefly practiced law and co-edited a newspaper. Although drawn from original material, the first third of the book presents an extremely biased and anti-Texan account of the Revolution. It is of little wonder that he attacks Kennedy's pro-Texas history throughout. "TEXAS CUT DOWN TO SIZE-A DIFFICULT FEAT EVEN IN 1842" (Graff). A strange anomaly, the map is the best (albeit curious) feature of the book. Maillard shrunk the Republic of Texas down to the smallest size yet seen, confining it to the coastal area that reaches inland only as far as San Antonio, Austin, and Nacogdoches. The vast majority of Texas has been given over to an area labelled "Territory of the Texan Indian." The large panhandle to the north is named "Santa Fe Formerly New Mexico."

REFERENCES: Graff 2663; Howes M 2155; Jenkins, Basic Texas Books 132; Raines, Bibliography of Texas, p. 144; Streeter, Texas 1422; Sabin 43886; Vandale 113.