[CATHOLIC CHURCH]. Despojo de los bienes eclesiasticos. Apuntes interesantes para la historia de la iglesia Mexicana. Mexico City: Imprenta de Abadiano, calle de Santo Domingo, 1847. [1-3] 4-24, [1] 2-8, [1] 2-12, [1] 2-7 [1, blank], [1] 2-8, [1] 2-12, [1] 2-16, [1] 2-12, [1] 2-16, [1] 2-53 [3] pp., wood-engraved vignette on title. 4to (21.7 x 15.5 cm), contemporary quarter black sheep over green and black mottled boards, spine gilt lettered and decorated. Head of spine missing, heavy edge wear, corners bumped, hinges open but holding. Except for light age toning, interior very fine. Very rare in commerce; no copies at auction in over thirty years.

First collected edition (apparently reprints; most have imprint “Mexico, Imprenta de las Escalerillas, 1847”). Garrett & Goodwin, p. 18 (one part). Palau 71207. Sabin 19757.

Reprints documents such as government decrees, church writings, and other official communications concerning Mexico’s efforts to extract income from church properties to support the war effort. The government decrees of January 13 and 15, 1847 propose raising 5,000,000 pesos from the archbishopric of Mexico, 2,000,000 from Puebla, 1,250,000 from Guadalajara, and 850,000 from Michoacán. The total to be raised is 15,000,000 pesos. Needless to say, all the documents herein by church leaders oppose the policy.