Nicolás de Lafora, relación del viaje que hizo a los presidios internos, situados en la frontera de la América septentrional, perteneciente al rey de España.
México: Editorial Pedro Robredo, 1939. [3 lvs], 335 pp., [1], map. Illus. with two maps, one folding. 4to. Paper wrappers. Limited edition. First edition, thus. A very good unopened [uncut] copy, with some soiling and wear to the wrappers. Item #45676
One of 100 numbered copies on "defensa ledger" paper.
"On March 18, 1766, [Nicolás de Lafora] began his journey to the prisons of the internal provinces of New Spain, which lasted nearly two years, accompanying the Marquis of Rubí. With Lafora was a group of six captains of engineers and second lieutenant José de Urrutia y de las Casas (future general engineer) under the command of lieutenant colonel Miguel del Corral.
The route of his long journey ranged from the Altar desert in the Gulf of California to the plains of Nacogdoches, next to Louisiana, within the lands of Nueva Vizcaya, Chihuahua, New Mexico, Arizona and Sonora. They crossed Texas, Nuevo León and Nueva Galicia, traveling more than 12,000 kilometers.
Upon his return to Mexico City, Lafora drew a Map of the King's domains in 1769, accompanied by an important Report of the trip that the Captain of Engineers Don Nicolás de Lafora made under the order of His Excellency Viceroy Marquis of Cruillas, accompanied by the Marshal of Campo Marqués de Rubí, commissioned by His Majesty to the review of the internal prisons, located on the border of the part of North America belonging to the King. Of great interest due to the technical data it contains, the enormous length of the itinerary traveled and the wise strategic ideas it contains." (Juan Carrillo de Albornoz y Galbeño: Nicolás de Lafora, Real Academia de la Historia: dbe.rah.es/biografias/34350/nicolas-de-lafora).
Price: $300.00