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David Woodman, Jr. Guide to Texas Emigrants. ...
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Description
First Edition of a Very Scarce Texas Guide Book
David Woodman, Jr. Guide to Texas
Emigrants. Boston: Printed by M. Hawes for the
Publishers, 1835.FIRST EDITION. 12mo. [i-iii] iv-vi, [13] 14-192 pages. Folding engraved frontispiece map: "The Colonization Grants to Zavala, Vehlein & Burnet in Texas" by S. Stiles & Co., with the three grants hand-colored in yellow, pink, and green, respectively, steel-engraved plate of a buffalo hunt after A. Fisher by W. E. Tucker. Publisher's pebble-grained cloth. Housed in a modern quarter morocco clamshell case.
A promotional publication of the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company, which controlled the Burnet, Vehlein, and Zavala grants, and were actively promoting its Texas holdings in both America and Europe. Much of the text draws upon a that found in the introductory remarks in a pamphlet published by the Trustees of the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company, in January 1831. Woodman states at the beginning of his main text that he is using it here by "making it the text for such comments upon the present condition of the country as the change of circumstances and relations require." In expanding the basic document, Woodman has included numerous articles from newspapers and letters written to describe Texas and the Company's lands. In his Introduction he remarks: "The difference between the condition of the farmers in New England and Texas may be summed up in a few words. Here, the owner is at work for the support of his beasts the whole year round; and there, the cattle are at work the whole time for the profit of the owner. There, the cattle are the slaves of their master; and here, the master is the slave of his beasts" (p. iv).
The engraved buffalo plate, after Alvan Fisher, comprises a very early engraving of a Texas scene. The accompanying map, which features the grants, also includes an inset plan of the Port of Galveston, made by Alexander Thompson of the Mexican Navy. The map is also found on a large broadside of the Galveston Bay & Texas Land Company (Streeter 1164). Graff calls for a terminal blank leaf, and Streeter, for a preliminary blank (as here).
Very rare: only two other copies have appeared in online auction records since 1915.
Condition: Spine a little faded and repaired at ends, corner tips strengthened, front joint expertly repaired with hinge reinforced, lower edges a little worn with boards slightly exposed, some rubbing, minor pale spotting and soiling. Map with a few old ink stains, margin discreetly repaired along gutter where inserted, some offsetting and light toning to map, a few small spots. A few old ink stains on title, occasional minor foxing and small stains to text, plate with a little marginal soiling and spotting. A very good copy, in original binding and with the rare map.
References: Clark, Old South 3:117; Day, Maps of Texas 66; Fifty Texas Rarities 12; Graff 4737; Howes W-647; Phillips, American Sporting Books, p. 413; Rader 3731; Raines p. 222; Sabin 105111; Streeter, Texas 1177; Streeter Sale 2:1177; Vandale 197.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
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