580. WARD, H[enry] G[eorge]. Mexico in 1827 by H.G. Ward, Esq. His Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires in that Country during the Years 1825, 1826, and Part of 1827. In Two Volumes. London: Henry Colburn, New Burlington Street, 1828. [Colophons] London: Printed by S. and R. Bentley, Dorset Street, Fleet Street]. Vol. I: [i-v] vi-xix [1], [1-3] 4-591 [1] pp.; Vol. II: [i-v] vi-viii, [1-3] 4-730 [2, Colburn ads] pp., 13 plates after original artwork by Lady Emily Elizabeth Swinburne Ward, 5 of which are folded (10 aquatints, 1 with hand coloring, 3 lithographs), 5 wood-engraved text illustrations, 2 folded engraved maps (see plate and map list below), tables in text. 2 vols., 8vo (24.3 x 15.2 cm), original tan drab boards, original printed paper spine labels, completely untrimmed, partially unopened. As issued, in boards. Binding with some spotting and darkening, joints chafed (slight loss of some paper along joints); save for occasional very mild foxing, interior, plates and maps very fine and fresh. An excellent, unsophisticated copy; it would be difficult to find a better one. Preserved in brown linen fleece-lined slipcase.

Maps & Plate List

Maps:

Mexico [below neat line] London, Published by Henry Colburn, New Burlington Str^t. April, 1828 Engraved by Sid^y. Hall, Bury Str^t. Bloomsb^y. Neat line to neat line: 53.7 x 67.5 cm. Shows the Transmissippi West and Texas.

Map of Routes to the Principal Mining Districts in the Central States of Mexico [below neat line] London, Published by Henry Colburn, New Burlington Str^t. April 1828 Engraved by Sid^y. Hall, Bury Str^t. Bloomsb^y. Neat line to neat line: 40.3 x 55.5 cm.

Plates:

Mexico. From the Azotea of the House of H. M’s Mission, San Cosme [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. T.M. Baynes lithog. Uncolored folded lithograph.

Agave Mexicana [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored aquatint.

Canada de Marfil, Entry to Guanaxuato [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored folded aquatint.

Puente del Rey [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored aquatint.

Collegiate Church, of Nuestra Senora de Guadaloupe [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. T.M. Baynes lithog. Uncolored lithograph.

View of the Town of Jalapa, with the Coffre de Perote [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Published by H. Colburn, London, 1828. On Stone by W. Gauci [below title] Printed by Engelmann & Co. Uncolored folded lithograph.

Chapultepec [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored aquatint.

Hacienda de Chapingo [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored folded aquatint.

An Arastre, or Crushing Mill [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored aquatint.

The Galeria of the Hacienda de Salgado [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored folded aquatint.

Patio of the Hacienda de Salgado [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored folded aquatint.

The Ascent to Catorce [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Uncolored folded aquatint.

Interior of an Indian Hut, El Bozal [below image] Drawn by M^rs. H.G. Ward. Pub: by H. Colburn, London, 1828. J. Clark, sculp. Hand-colored aquatint which includes an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe hanging on the wall.

     First edition. Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography 1770-1860, Vol. II #688: “It is interesting to see the presence of aquatints and lithographs together in the book, and to notice, as Prideaux suggests, the superiority of the aquatints.” Hill II:1826. London Literary Gazette (January 7, 1832, No. 781, p. 62): “The most systematic and complete work of which we are in possession respecting Mexico.” Palau 374005. Prideaux, pp. 257, 355 (incorrectly calling for 18 plates). Raines, p. 215. Sabin 101302. Streeter 1104: “Classic book on Mexico as the main reason for its inclusion, General Arthur G. Wavell’s account of Texas.... However, I hope the rarity of accounts of Texas in the 1820s makes its inclusion worth while. A minor reason is its inclusion of Simon H.G. Bourne’s account of Sonora and Cinaloa, which is referred to in the note to Bourne’s Observations, London, 1828.”

     In a recent article, “Mexico Once Tried Hard to Prevent Americans from Migrating to Texas” (www.mexconnect.com/articles/1261), Tony Burton remarks on Ward’s activities shortly after Mexico achieved Independence from Spain in 1821:

The first British Chargé d’Affaires in Mexico was Sir Henry George Ward (1797-1860). Ward entered the diplomatic service in 1816, and first visited Mexico in 1823, as a member of a British government commission assessing the desirability of establishing trading relations following Independence. The following year, he married Emily Elizabeth Swinburne, who accompanied him on his return to Mexico in 1825 in his role as Chargé d’Affaires. Two years later, Ward wrote a detailed description of how he saw Mexico. Mexico in 1827, which contains illustrations by his wife, was an early appraisal of the fledgling Mexican Republic, and was published on his return to the UK. Ward’s book provides numerous details of trade, mining, economic activity and topography....

Ward, a skilled diplomat, arrived only a few months before his American counterpart Joel Poinsett...the first US minister to Mexico. Ward was not only anti-Spanish, but also decidedly anti-American. His main goal, apparently, was to try to prevent the USA from expanding its territory at the expense of Mexico. The British diplomat believed that the incorporation of Texas into the Anglo-American states was inevitable unless the Mexican government could stem the wave of immigrants flooding southwards into the region... The Mexican government was relatively unstable at this time, with frequent changes of leaders and some inconsistency in policies. Ward summed up the political situation that he encountered as one in which, after thirteen years of civil war, the form of government had still not been determined, with great differences of opinion existing with respect to the desired degree of central authority. He found it difficult to conceive of any country less prepared than Mexico for the “transition from despotism to democracy.”

While both men were acting on behalf of their respective countries, Ward acted as a moderate balance to the interventionist politics of Poinsett. He promoted the signing of a UK-Mexico treaty of friendship, trade and migration, but the UK gradually lost influence in Mexico despite Ward’s best efforts. Meanwhile, Poinsett was trying his hardest to purchase Texas. His meddling in Mexican politics antagonized the government of Vicente Guerrero to the point where his recall was demanded in 1829.

The British Chargé d’Affaire’s greatest concern was that the USA might one day gain control over Texas ports. This would put them only three days away by boat from Tampico and Veracruz (Mexico’s main trading port) and mean that Mexico was vulnerable to invasion. Ward’s worst fears in this regard were realized later in the nineteenth century (the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848).

     The exquisite plates were created from the original art work of the author’s wife, Lady Emily Elizabeth Swinburne Ward (1798-1882), who also illustrated the portfolio, Six Views of the Most Important Towns, and Mining Districts, upon the Table Land of Mexico. Drawn by Mrs. H.G. Ward (London: Henry Colburn, 1829). See preceding entry.

($1,200-2,400)

Auction 23 Abstracts

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