Kaaterskill Books

Montúfar y Rivera Maestre, Lorenzo. [Walker, William].

Reseña Histórica de Centro-América [Seven Volumes].

Guatemala: Tip. de El Progreso / La Union, 1878-1887. Illus. 8vo. Vol. 1, quarter red morocco; vols. 2-7 original blank paper wrappers as issued. First editions. Volumes 2-7 unopened (uncut) and untrimmed as sold hence some edges worn and soiled, scattered foxing, blank wrappers quite worn, torn, and soiled, some toning to half titles or titles, otherwise trimmed size is internally near fine; volume 1 extremities worn, small chip at head of spine and joint split at top. Booksellers stamp to title page of one volume. Palau 179837. Spain & Spanish America II, 393 (V.1-5). Grieb, Central America 263. Villacorta, Bibliografía guatemalteca 1078-1084. Griffin 4376. Item #34932

This is the most famous 19th c. work on Central America and a very important regional history by an anti-clerical and liberal historian, Lorenzo Montufar y Rivera Maestre (1823-1898), who, as foreign minister of Costa Rica, helped organize the Central American defense against William Walker (to whom the final volume is devoted; and is perhaps the best treatment of the filibusters) and was frequently exiled for his opposition to the dictator Rafael Carrera. Bancroft and many other historians relied very heavily on Montufar's work and thus his subsequent influence on both English and Spanish language histories has been quite substantial. Stamp of bookseller: Libreria Juan Capella en Guatemala on one leaf. Uncommon in this mostly unaltered state; ABPC shows only one copy at auction in the last quarter century.

Price: $1,500.00