LOT #76322 |
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Mary Austin Holley. Texas. . ...
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Description
Mary Austin Holley. Texas.Observations, Historical, Geographical and Descriptive, in a Series of Letters, Written During a Visit to Austin's Colony, With a View to a Permanent Settlement in That Country, in the Autumn of 1831. Baltimore: Armstrong & Plaskitt, 1833. First edition. Copyright slip attached to the verso of the title page. 12mo. 167pp. One engraved 14.25" x 11.25" fold-out "Map of the State of Coahuila and Texas" sculpted by W. Hooker. Original dark blue cloth with "Texas" stamped in gilt within a decorative gilt cartouche on the front board. Remarkably well-preserved with scuffing at the corners and spine ends. Scattered light foxing throughout, former owner's book plate on the front pastedown and a period signature "Tompkins" on the front pastedown. Preserved in a beautiful modern quarter leather and blue cloth slipcase with titles stamped in gilt in compartments between five raised spine bands. A beautiful example of this important book Streeter refers to as "the first book in English entirely on Texas".
Holley, a cousin of Stephen F. Austin to whom she dedicates her book, traveled to Texas to aid her brother Henry, who was settling in Bolivar. She was greatly impressed with all she saw and experienced and provides detailed description of the land, resources, inhabitants and existing settlements. The book was published while Stephen F. Austin was being held prisoner in Mexico City, having been arrested on the orders of General Santa Anna. Some historians believe that Santa Anna obtained a copy of the book which Stephen F. Austin allegedly translated for him, thus providing the general with his first real information on the area. An engaging and incredibly interesting early account of Texas and the keystone in any serious Texas library.
Reference: Streeter 1135 and 1136. Basic Texas Books 93A. Howes H593b. Rader 1912. Sabin 32528. Graff 1934.
Auction Info
2008 June Signature Texana Auction #6003 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2008
14th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,229
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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