LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Signature Texana Auction #661  / 

56037

Mary Austin Holley: Texas. with Map.

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Mary Austin Holley: Texas. with Map.
<B>Mary Austin Holley: </B></I><B><I>Texas. Observations, Historical, Geographical and Descriptive</B></I></B></I>, <I>In a Series of Letters, Written During a Visit to Austin's Colony, with a view to a permanent settlement in that country, in the Autumn of 1831. By Mrs. Mary Austin Holley. With an Appendix, Containing specific answers to certain questions, relative to Colonization in Texas, issued some time since by the London Geographical Society. Also, some notice of the recent political events in that quarter. </B></I>(Baltimore: Armstrong & Plaskitt, 1833). First edition of the first book in English entirely about Texas. Twelvemo ( 7" x 4.5"). 167 pages with appendix. Folding map: <I>Map of the State of Coahuila and Texas</B></I>. W. Hooker (13" x 10"). Brown cloth lettered in gilt. Ink stamp to the bottom edge, light rubbing and fading, rear hinge cracked but sound. Light to moderate occasional foxing. Altogether, a very good copy. Housed in a cloth chemise and quarter morocco slipcase. The work is an epistolary account of the author's journey in the fall of 1831. The first book written in English devoted entirely to Texas. Mrs. Holley was a cousin to Stephen F. Austin, to whom the book is dedicated. She visited Texas in 1831, and was enthusiastic about the country and its prospects. In this series of letters she described the natural features, and the political, economic, and social life, concluding that "ones feelings in Texas are unique and original, and very like a dream or youthful vision realized." Streeter 1135: "This is the first book in English entirely on Texas. For a long time I have regarded it as one of the Texas classics." In his Introduction, Streeter states that this has long been one of his favorite books on life and travel in Texas. Holley and Austin had hoped to use Austin's original map, published by the Philadelphia map publisher H.S. Tanner, for the book, but Tanner refused, and they were obligated to make use of another map based on Austin's sources, by the engraver William Hooker. It is one of the earliest maps of Texas to show the entire territory, including the Panhandle, and one of the first to identify the vast land grants awarded to the earliest settlers. <I>From the collection of Darrel Brown.</B></I><BR> <BR><B>Reference:</B></I> Howes H593. Sabin 32528. Texana, <I>Colonisation</B></I> 10; Library of Congress Exhibition 74: "An early Texas literary classic." Jenkins, <I>Basic Texas Books</B></I>, 93. Graff 1924.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Books & Catalogs (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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