Pedro Salazar de Mendoza book and letter, 2 items total. 1st item: Origen de las dignidades seglares de Castilla y Leon con relacion summaria de los Reyes de estos Reinos, de sus actiones, casamientos, hijos, muertes, sepulturas, dellos que las han creado y tenido y de muchos Ricos Homes confirmadores de privilegios...por el Doctor Salazar de Mendoza, 1st Edition, by Pedro Salazar de Mendoza, 1618. Published for Diego Rodriguez de Valdivieso, Toledo. Octavo, copper plate engraved title page, rebound in old vellum cover with five raised hubs. 11 3/4" H x 8 5/8" W x 1 1/2" D. 2nd item: ALS. One page typed letter. From Carlos Eduardo Castaneda, Latin American Librarian, Library of the University of Texas, Austin, TX, to E. E. Townsend, Alpine, TX, dated December 16, 1937. The letter was written in regards to the 1st item and verifies that it is a first edition. 11 1/8" W x 8 5/8" W. Note: Carlos E. Castaneda (1896-1958) played a central role in the early development of the Benson Latin American Collection, which is considered one of the world's foremost repositories of Latin American materials. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he earned the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Castaneda was librarian of the Latin American Collection from 1927 until 1946 and is given principal credit for acquiring the incomparable private collection of Garcia Icazbalceta of Mexico. Recognized as an authority on the early history of Mexico and Texas, Dr. Castaneda served as a part-time associate professor of history from 1936 to 1946, when he was named professor of Latin American history, a position he continued until his death in 1958. (source: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/pcl/history/castaneda.html). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

1st item: Overall good condition with foxing spots to pages to be expected from age. Pencil inscriptions, top left of title page. Overall wrinkling, foxing spots, stains, largest 3 3/8" x 1 3/4", to surface of old vellum covers. 2nd item: Signature in strong, visible condition. Creases, tears, largest 3/4", foxing spots to leetter (does not affect signature).