19. BERLANDIER, Luis & Rafael Chovel.
Diario de viage de la Comisión de Límites
que puso el gobierno de la República, baja la
dirección del Exmo. Sr. D. Manuel de Mier y
Terán. Mexico: Navarro, 1850. 298 [1, index]
pp., lithographed frontispiece portrait of Mier y
Terán. 8vo, original dark brown Mexican sheep gilt
over rose and black mottled boards. Some external wear and
rubbing to edges and extremities, bookplate removed,
generally very good, with the portrait that was inserted in
only a few copies.
First
edition. Basic Texas Books 14: "A few copies are
known with a frontispiece...the best scientific study of
Texas during the colonial period. Berlandier came to Mexico
to collect botanical specimens for a group of Swiss
naturalists, and to accompany Gen. Manuel de Mier y
Terán on his scientific expedition to Texas in
1828...he was observant, careful, and intelligent, and he
left us a record that is unmatched for his era in Texas."
Graff 278. Howes B379. Palau 27991. Plains &
Rockies IV:178a. Raines, p. 24. Raines calls for two
maps. Copies with two maps have not been found and it is
doubtful that they were issued. Streeter 781n. Pingenot:
Berlandier was part of the commission sent out by the
Mexican government in 1827 to explore the boundaries of
Texas. He spent nearly three years in the southwestern
wilderness, much of the time in Texas, and this is his
day-by-day journal and reports, which provide the most
detailed description of Texas at the time.
($800-1,600)