4 - [COLLECTIVE]. Mexico and Its Surroundings. A collection of monuments, costumes, and landscapes drawn from life and lithographed by the Mexican artists C. Castro, J. Campillo, L. Auda, and G. Rodriguez. Mexico City, Establecimiento Litográfico de Decaen, 1855–1856.

[COLLECTIVE]. Mexico and Its Surroundings. A collection of monuments, costumes, and landscapes drawn from life and lithographed by the Mexican artists C. Castro, J. Campillo, L. Auda, and G. Rodriguez. Mexico City, Establecimiento Litográfico de Decaen, 1855–1856. Folio, illustrated edition featuring a pasted-in frontispiece and 37 plates comprising 42 lithographs printed in bistre and color, depicting various views of Mexico City and its surroundings, as well as costumes and monuments. Each lithograph is captioned in English, Spanish, and French. Descriptive text for the plates written by Márcos Arroniz, José T. de Bárcena, Francisco Gonzales Bocanegra, J.M. Gonzales, Hilarion Frias y Soto, Luis G. Ortis, Manuel Payno, Anselmo de la Portilla, Vicente Segura Argüelles, Francisco Zarco, and Niceto de Zamacois. Contemporary half-leather binding, title gilded on the front cover, spine with 5 raised bands. A superb publication of high lithographic quality, considered one of the most important works on Mexico. The collation of copies varies according to bibliographers, both in the number and states of the lithographs and in the presence of text leaves; the true content of this first edition does not seem to have been established, as the majority of copies consist of plates in various states and printings. Our copy does indeed include all 37 text leaves and 37 plates. "The most important work illustrating Mexico City in the nineteenth century" (Mathes) This copy is enhanced by an autograph dedication signed by R. De Villa-Urrutia: “To Colonel Hugueney, Commander of the Military Transport Train. A memento from your good friend. Mexico. November 13, 1865.” an invitation card to the Imperial Palace in Mexico City for June 26, 1865, partially handwritten, and a diploma conferring the title of Knight of the Grand Order of Guadalupe, in the name of Luis Augusto Hugueney, dated August 15, 1864, with signatures, the required endorsements and seals, including the signature of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico. (foxing spots, rubbed binding with leather wear, faded spine, split inner hinge, text block fragile) Appraiser: Nicolas ASVISIO