Lima, Peru, 1786, Reales Ordenanzas para la Direccion, Regimen y Gobierno del Importante Cuerpo de la Mineria de Nueva-Espana. Quarto, title-page, pp lxxix, vii, 269. [Palau 251938: Sabin 56260] Laws relating to the practice of mining in New Spain (Mexico), prepared by (or for) Josef de Galvez. First published in Madrid in a folio edition in 1783, then in Lima: Palau notes a folio edition there in 1785, then this quarto edition the year later; it was republished as late as 1812. Galvez, a lawyer by profession, was an important royal official (Visitador), of the highest rank, who spent the years of 1765 - 71 in Mexico . He sponsored the settlement of California and generally reformed Mexican finances and civil service under the new Bourbon dispensation. (He suffered from mental illness and apparently ended his own life.) He was created the Marques de Sonora for his valuable services to the crown, among which may be numbered this digest of mining laws, of which Sabin says it is "a rare and valuable compendium of the old mining laws and mineral customs. Several early signatures dot the title pages and could be early owners or those associated with the printing. If you search this title on Abes books, you will find copies being offered as high as $4000 - in conditions far worse than this exceptional example.

Provenance: Ex-private Gantt collection, Colorado. Belong to current owners great grandfather.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#112810