[HISTORIES]. ALCÁRAZ, Ramón, et al. Apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre México y los Estados-Unidos. Mexico City: Tipografia de Manuel Payno (hijo), calle de Santa Clara, N. 23, 1848. [i-iii] iv-v [1, blank] [2], [1] 2-401 [3] pp., 14 lithographed portraits by Plácido Blanco, 14 folding lithographed maps (most by Blanco, a few unattributed), 2 statistical tables on recto and verso of folding leaf within typographical border. 8vo (25.2 x 17 cm), contemporary quarter green Mexican calf over tan and black marbled boards, spine elaborately gilt stamped, edges sprinkled. Slight edge wear and minor rubbing to spine ends. Except for small stains to two maps, a very fine complete copy with the elusive Resaca de Guerrero (Resaca de la Palma) map, which is often lacking.

Maps

[1] Plano de la ciudad de Matamoros 1846.

[2] Plano del pais situado al N.E. de la ciuadad de Matamoros 1846.

[3] Plano de las posiciones...en la Resaca de Guerrero....

[4] Plano de la Batalla de Palo-Alto....

[5] Plano de la ciudad de Monterey de N. León....

[6] Plano de la ciudad de Tampico....

[7] Croquis del combate...Angostura.

[8] Croquis del sitio de Veracruz....

[9] Croquis de la batalla de Sacramento....

[10] Croquis de la posición del campo de Cerro Gordo....

[11] Plano del...Peñon del Marquéz....

[12] Plano de Churubusco.

[13] Campo de Padierna....

[14] Plano de los puntos atacados por el ejército americano....

First edition (according to Streeter issued in parts September, 1848 to May, 1849, probably with a portrait and map in each part). Eberstadt 114:733 (13 maps). Garrett & Goodwin, p 3: “An excellent source of material for the Mexican side of the war. It is generally critical of Santa Anna.” Haferkorn, p. 8. Howes A105 (13 maps). Larned 2008: “Best source on the conduct of the war.” Mathes, Mexico on Stone, pp. 24 (discussing the book in his text); 56 (listing the book in his bibliography); 64 (Payno). Palau 14138 (12 maps). Rader 74. Sabin 1858 & 48281 (23 lithographs): “Extremely rare. General Santa Anna, when last in power, ordered the edition to be destroyed and imprisoned the authors.” Streeter Sale 279 (13 maps). Tutorow 3254: “Alcaraz and about a dozen associates met in Querétaro in 1847 to write their accounts of the war. Charges the U.S. with territorial aggression in Texas and blames the U.S. for starting the war. Much on the military movements of the Mexican army, but very little on Mexican politics.”

Tyler in his preliminary study on Texas lithographs of the nineteenth-century cites the portraits of Santa Anna, Arista, Ampudia, and Taylor. The book is important for the history of Mexican lithography. The excellent lithographs were created by Plácido Blanco, who also created the famous El gallo pitagórico (1845).

One of the more brazen books about the war, written right after the sting of defeat was still being acutely felt. At bottom, the authors lay the war at the feet of the U.S. but lay the defeat at Santa-Anna’s. As noted above, the book so infuriated Santa-Anna that he tried to destroy the copies and threw the authors into prison, a task made all the easier because they bravely listed their names in the preliminaries. A step-by-step, blow-by-blow history from the background troubles and battles in Texas to the U.S. withdrawal.