1822[-1823]. · México
by [Mexico]
México: D. Alejandro Valdés, impresor de Cámara del imperio, 1822[-1823].. 442pp. Small quarto. Later tree calf, edges of boards tooled in gilt, spine gilt, red morocco gilt label. Some wear and rubbing to boards, corners bumped, spine ends chipped. Mild tanning, but internally quite clean. About very good. A rare copy of the proceedings of the short- lived junta of the First Mexican Empire, which began after Emperor Agustín de Iturbide dissolved the Congreso Contituyente on October 31, 1822. Beginning with the "Instalacion de la junta. Dia 2 de noviembre de 1822," this volume covers the junta's entire tenure, through "Dia 6 de marzo" of 1823. The junta was tasked with reigning in spending, creating a provisional set of laws for the empire, and eventually issuing a call for a new congress. The text also includes one hundred proposed articles for the new constitution (January 10, 1823).
The initial instability of newly-independent Mexico's government resulted in sudden and dramatic shifts in leadership and forms of rule. Iturbide already had substantial popularity thanks to his role as commander of the forces that liberated Mexico from Spain. As a result, he was proclaimed president of the Regency and President of the Provisional Governing Junta in 1821. The initial plan was for Mexico to secure a European prince to take the throne of the newly-created constitutional monarchy. But as the government developed, Iturbide's supporters encouraged him to take the throne for himself and be crowned as emperor. After a popular uprising in May 1822, Iturbide conceded, and was crowned in July. The congress, however, had a more republican model in mind, and believed itself to have sovereignty over the emperor, as the elected voice of the people. Conflict continued, and rumors of a congressional plot to kidnap Iturbide and overthrow the empire prompted him to dissolve congress and establish the Junta Nacional Instituyente. Iturbide's rule was a failure, and in no time the elite had turned against him, he could not pay his army, and opposition groups were growing. Antonio López de Santa Anna marshaled forces against Iturbide, who did not offer much resistance. In March, 1823, Iturbide reinstated the Congreso Contituyente and abdicated the throne.
Alejandro Valdés was a prominent printer in early 19th-century Mexico, particularly after he purchased the workshop of Maria Fernández de Jáuregui following her death in 1817. When Iturbide took the throne, Valdés ingratiated himself and assumed the title his father Manuel Antonio Valdés held during the viceregal regime: "Impresor de Cámara."
This volume is rare in the trade, and we find only one copy at auction, in 2014. OCLC lists four copies: Library of Congress, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Biblioteca Nacional de México, and University of Texas at Austin. PALAU 71954. OCLC 54455322, 651203469, 23948844. SABIN 48422. (Inventory #: WRCAM57589)
The initial instability of newly-independent Mexico's government resulted in sudden and dramatic shifts in leadership and forms of rule. Iturbide already had substantial popularity thanks to his role as commander of the forces that liberated Mexico from Spain. As a result, he was proclaimed president of the Regency and President of the Provisional Governing Junta in 1821. The initial plan was for Mexico to secure a European prince to take the throne of the newly-created constitutional monarchy. But as the government developed, Iturbide's supporters encouraged him to take the throne for himself and be crowned as emperor. After a popular uprising in May 1822, Iturbide conceded, and was crowned in July. The congress, however, had a more republican model in mind, and believed itself to have sovereignty over the emperor, as the elected voice of the people. Conflict continued, and rumors of a congressional plot to kidnap Iturbide and overthrow the empire prompted him to dissolve congress and establish the Junta Nacional Instituyente. Iturbide's rule was a failure, and in no time the elite had turned against him, he could not pay his army, and opposition groups were growing. Antonio López de Santa Anna marshaled forces against Iturbide, who did not offer much resistance. In March, 1823, Iturbide reinstated the Congreso Contituyente and abdicated the throne.
Alejandro Valdés was a prominent printer in early 19th-century Mexico, particularly after he purchased the workshop of Maria Fernández de Jáuregui following her death in 1817. When Iturbide took the throne, Valdés ingratiated himself and assumed the title his father Manuel Antonio Valdés held during the viceregal regime: "Impresor de Cámara."
This volume is rare in the trade, and we find only one copy at auction, in 2014. OCLC lists four copies: Library of Congress, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Biblioteca Nacional de México, and University of Texas at Austin. PALAU 71954. OCLC 54455322, 651203469, 23948844. SABIN 48422. (Inventory #: WRCAM57589)
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