San Juan de Ulua, ou, Relation de l'expedition francaise au Mexique, sous les ordres de M. le contre-amiral Baudin. Suivi de notes et documents, et d'un apercu general sur l'etat actuel du Texas, par M.E. Maissin.
Paris: Chez Gide, 1839. xii, 591 pp. Illus. with 18 engraved plates on India paper and 34 woodcut vignettes. 4to. Contemporary quarter morocco over marbled boards, raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt, marbled endpapers. First edition. A very good or better copy, boards and spine rubbed, scattered foxing mainly marginal and to verso of plates. Sabin 5832. Howes B 507 (aa). Palau 30412. Graff 323. Raines p. 145. Streeter Texas 1343. Brunet I: 963 (1841). Leclerc 1075. Graesse I: 436 (1841). Item #34080
"The most exhaustive work on this episode [the Pastry War] with illustrations, mainly by Blanchard, who, assisting also as interpreter, had additional opportunity for gaining information. He accompanied Baudin's representative to Mexico and other places, and used his pen freely in observations on the scenery, the people, and their institutions, all of which served to add variety and interest to the narrative, the attractive style of which owes much to the revision of Dauzats," (Bancroft, Hist. Mexico, p. 204). Raines, discussing Maissin's report, concludes that "Admiral Baudin's favorable report of Texas doubtless hastened the recognition of the Republic by France," (Bibliography of Texas. p. 145). Printing on India paper was not common; Sabin also notes that the book was printed for 45 fr. with vignettes and 25 fr without.
Price: $2,250.00