MEXICO. LAWS. Código fundamental de los Estados-Unidos Mexicanos. Mexico City: Imprenta de Torres, en el ex-convento del Espíritu Santo, 1847. [1-7] 8-92 [4] pp. 12mo (17.2 x 11.5 cm), original printed wrappers, stitched. Spine slightly chipped. Scattered light foxing. Overall, very good.

First edition.

According to the publisher’s statement, this text was authorized by the government. The price was four reales. The publisher indicates which passages of the 1824 Constitution have been modified by later acts.

Contains printings of the “Acta constitutiva” of January 31, 1824, the Constitution of October 4, 1824, “Acta constitutiva de reformas” of May 18, 1847, and “Acta de reformas” of May 21, 1847, along with other documents, among which is a statement by Santa-Anna protesting his love of country and his patriotism (pp. 79-80). This document was issued against the background of the threat being posed by the U.S. invasion and the subsequent need to put the country’s house in order, as is mentioned in the text. At this point, the Mexican army had already lost several important battles in northern Mexico and the Battle of Cerro Gordo.

These were the basic documents that governed Mexico for the remainder of the war, although at this point Santa-Anna was a virtual dictator.