1841 – An Alta California maritime customs tax receipt from Monterey printed on the Zamorano Press and signed by Antonio Maria Osio and Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo

Monterey, California, 1841. Unbound. Very good. This one-page printed foreign trade tax receipt measures ?” x ?”. It is titled Habitado provicionalmente por la Alduana maritima del puerto de Monterrey, en el Departmento de las California, para los anos mil ochocientos cuarenta y mil ochocientos cuarenta y uno. [Maritime Customs of the provincial port of Monterrey in the Department of California for the years 1840 and 1841.]” In nice shape.

It is printed on Italian laid paper watermarked “AL MASSO” (as was often the case in mid-19th century Mexico) almost certainly using the Augustin V. Zamorano printing press, the first and only one in California (truncated) for many years. The press first arrived at Monterrey in 1834 and was used by Zamorano (the governor’s secretary) to print proclamations, announcements, government forms, and documents. It was moved to Sonoma in 1836 but returned to Monterey around 1841-1842.

Alvarado (Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado y Vallejo) and Osio [Antonio Maria Osio] signed these forms in advance, so they were ready to be used when needed. As proclaimed along the top margin, this one was to be used for tax equal to a “CUARTO UNA CUARTILLA,” that is, one-quarter of a quarter real. . In 1836, backed by 170 armed Californios and a loosely organized contingent of Americans known as the Tennessee Rifles, Alvarado declared California to be independent and installed himself as its governor. Soon thereafter, to avoid a war with Mexico, he abandoned his plans of independence after Mexico granted him substantial autonomous authority in ruling California. He served as governor until 1842.

Antonio Maria Osio, who wrote the first history of Alta California, was a government official, civil servant, and regional landowner. In exchange for his support, Alvarado granted him Angel Island for use as a cattle ranch, provided some of the land was retained for harbor defense. At the time this document was prepared, he was serving as the Monterey Customs Inspector.

(For more information, see “The Press’ History” at the Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits website, “The Spanish Era” at the Angel Island website, the 22 September 2018 blog entry at The Valley Village View website, and “The Alvarado Flag” at the CRW Flags website.)
These pre-printed tax forms are scarce, and most that I have seen do not bear the signatures of Alvarado or Osio. At the time of listing, no others (signed or not) are available for sale in the trade. Although the Rare Book Hub and ABPC current show none have appeared at auction, at least one other has been sold by a philatelic auction house. OCLC shows very similar forms identifying California rancho boundaries are held at the University of California at Berkeley. . (Inventory #: 010362)