Ordenanza de la Renta del Tobaco, Mandada Observar por Suprema Orden de 24 de Agosto de 1846
Mexico City: Impresa en la Casa de Correccion de Jovenes, 1846. 90,[22]pp. Later marbled wrappers, edges sprinkled blue. A few small patches of staining to title page; otherwise, light, even tanning. Very good. Item #2833
An important and scarce book of regulations for the officials and workers in the Mexican tobacco industry just prior to the Mexican-American War, with provisions regarding the storage and processing of tobacco, and instructions for the destruction of illegal plants and contraband. The parties addressed in this book of ordinances are the general director; the general accountant; the general treasurer; the "faithful administrator" of the general stores; the bookkeeper of the general stores; the main administrators; political administrators; functionaries; third party sellers and tobacconists; factory administrators; factory accountants; tobacco leaf buyers and sellers; and safety wardens. The final leaves comprise an extensive subject and title index. According to the imprint, this book was printed in a correctional facility for teenagers, "Casa de Correccion de Jóvenes." Interestingly, the quires are made up of small bifolia, which would have made the job of composing and setting the type before printing much easier. The whole is in fact quite handsomely printed, with a varied use of typefaces and ornaments. OCLC locates four copies, at Columbia Law, Duke, Berkeley, and the University of Alaska.
Price: $1,750.00