[MEXICO]
Los Mexicanos pintados por si mismos; tipos y costumbres nacionales, por varios autores. [Mexico City]: Edicion de M. Murguia, [1854-1855, from internal evidence]. First edition. Bound in contemporary Mexican red morocco to a near-Romantique style, embossed and gilt, upper cover lettered Recuerdos de Mexico, the spine lettered "Los Mexicanos/a la/Senorita/Da Fanny Farrell." 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (24.5 x 16.5 cm); colored lithographic title page, 290, 1 pp., illustrated with 34 lithographs by Campillo & Iriarte. Binding somewhat worn but sound, a few spots of foxing internally but overall a clean example of a rare work.
An attractive plate book presenting an interesting and insightful portrait of the Mexican people, their costumes and social customs, written and printed in Mexico by Mexican authors of note, including Ignacio Ramírez (El Nigromante), Pantaleon Tovar, J.M. Rivera, Juan de Dios Arias, Hilarion Frias, and Niceto de Zamacois. The plates depict cowboys, scholars and authors, merchants, entertainers, poets, musicians, nurses, typesetters, opera divas, cleaning women, chess geniuses, school teachers, and many more: far from the usual gallery of trades.
The importance and rarity of this original edition is attested by the two published facsimiles of it (Mexico City, 1935 and 1947). The lithographs are superbly delineated and executed. The work was originally issued in parts. This copy contains the extra plate, El Panadero, not listed in the list of plates but required for completeness. The only similarly complete copy we note at auction in the last quarter-century was sold in 1997 for 3,200 pounds ($5,263); the other copy in that period was incomplete. Palau 167479 ("edicion rara"); Sabin XII, 126 (error in collation). Not in Colas or Lipperheide.