Mexican Treasury, 1830 - 1850 Banking and Treasury Reports (5)
1. Informe Y Cuentas Que El Banco De Avio de 1830, approximately 23 bound pages of text and reports (11" x 8") engraved on watermarked laid paper, paper covers, one marbled , removed by others from larger bound volume.
2. Memoria Del Secretario Del Despacho de Hacienda, Leida En Las Camaras Del Congreso General, 1833 approximately 100 bound pages of text and foldout charts
(8 1/8" x 11 1/2" x 1/2") engraved on watermarked laid paper, paper covers
3. Segunda Part De La Memoria De La Hacienda Nacional De La Republica Mexican, Cuenta General De Valores Distribucion De Las Rentas Del Erario Nacional 1836-1837. approximately 100 pages of text and foldout charts (8 1/2" x 11 3/4" x 1/2") engraved on watermarked laid paper and wove paper, printed paper covers.
4. Memoria Que El Secretario De Hacienda Leyo Al Honorable Congreso Del Estado De Mexico. Toluca 1850. 14 pages with numerous foldout charts (8 1/4" x 12 1/4" x 1/4") printed on wove paper, paper covers
5. Memoria Que El Secretario De Hacienda Leyo Al Honrable Congreso Del Estado De Mexico. Toluca 1850. (second copy) 14 pages with numerous foldout charts, printed paper covers.
Condition and details:
black and white engraved paper covers, some with decorative type and small pictorial vignettes, engraved on a variety of period and possibly earlier European and other watermarked laid paper, watermarks including paper mill names and pictorial motifs
dimensions: approx. 8 1/2" x 11" x 1/2", varies
condition: as found, paper covers showing some wear, internal pages in good condition, later wove paper toned throughout, some volumes may have belonged to an annual compilation separated by others.
Description:This lot of four (4) distinct annual finance and banking titles published by the Mexican government to report on the years 1830 to 1850 constitute original records for analysis by scholars of Latin American finance and internal Mexican public finance with which to reconstruct Latin American finance and internal Mexican public finance during Mexico's turbulent political times, including the era leading to the revolt in Tejas (Texas) and secession of Tejas (Texas) to become an independent republic, and by the 1840's the lead up and consequences to Mexico of the Mexican-American War when it lost 55% of its territory to the United States. These four reports are original documents and records of the financial upheaval Mexico experienced during this era, which began only 10 years after Mexico's own independence from Spain in September, 1821. By contrast, see elsewhere within this antique map catalogue the Ornamental Map of the United States and Mexico, c. 1851 for a cartographic view from the other side of the national border.
The Banco Avio, established in 1830, was the first development agency created in Mexico and its purpose was to help finance private manufacturing. It was founded by Lucas Alaman. The Banco Avio was in operation for twelve years until 1842. The first book in this lot is a report of that first year of operation. Loans made by Banco Avio were intended for local, private manufacture of widely consumed goods, including fabric and food. The goal was to stimulate the Mexican economy and create independence from low priced, imported goods.
The paper on which these reports are printed is finely crafted European watermarked paper. The report's cover is printed on Varenna watermarked paper. Internal pages are printed on watermarked Giovanni Battista and Bartolomeo paper with the paper mill name in large block letters and an elaborate decorative crest. The rear end paper is on Al Masso watermarked paper. The importation of these papers by the printer for the government of Mexico is in itself an aspect of the country's international trade and adds a compelling dimension to the Banco Avio's program to encourage much needed local manufacturing of good required by the majority of Mexico's population.
The Segunda Part of the Memoria De La Hacienda Nacional Republica Mexicana of 1836 to 1837 contains annual reports of internal finances from imports and other commercial activities, and related tax revenue reported by state on numerous foldout charts. I do not read Spanish, and therefore this synopsis is only in very general terms. More is to be discovered by a scholar in this field of study. As with the 1830 report of the Banco Avio, this 1832 engraved text on fine imported paper is set off at the front and rear of the volume with watermarked paper selected by the printer to highlight the pictorial watermarks, such as an antlered deer taking flight and a winged angel bearing a palm frond. It is hard to imagine U.S. Government reports of this era with elegant watermarked laid paper.
The rear cover of this report is illustrated with a Western (Roman or Greek) maiden or goddess holding a cornucopia so that its natural abundance spills to the ground.
The Memoria Del Secretario Del Sespacho De Hacienda of the Congreso General of 1833 cover is engraved with a symbolically rich vignette of an eagle astride a bound bundle of rods, a winged liberty cap labeled "Libertato" hovering over the scene and a large rope beehive giving forth its community of worker bees against a rural backdrop. The image is framed by an elaborate acanthus like border.
Lavarenna Giovanni Battista and Ghigliotti 5 watermarked papers are used for the front and rear covers and throughout.
By 1850, the Memoria Que El Secretario De Hacienda Leyo Al Honorable Congreso Del Estado De Mexico, printed on plain wove paper, delivers the national finance minister's report on the Mexican national finances in a compilation of foldout charts. This report is a financial profile of Mexico, two years after the conclusion of the Mexican American War and offers scholars original documentation published by the Mexican government. There are two identical 1850 reports in this lot.
(US)
