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

56413

Memorials of George Fisher-Early Texian

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:8,750.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Memorials of George Fisher-Early Texian
<B>George Fisher:</B></I> <B><I>Memorials of George Fisher, Late Secretary to the Expedition of Gen. Jose Antonio Mexia, against Tampico, in November, 1835.</B></I></B></I> (Houston: Telegraph Office, 1840.) 87 pp. 8vo. First edition. Small section of blank margin at upper edge of title missing, title stained, paper shows some age toning but still fine. Full dark brown calf; modern dark brown silk moire box.<BR><BR>Born in Hungary in 1795, Fisher originally trained as a priest but in 1813 he joined the Serbian revolutionary forces during the First Serbian Uprising. The following year, Fisher came to Philadelphia and shortly thereafter headed to Mexico, becoming a naturalized Mexican citizen in 1829. After contracting to settle five hundred families on lands in Texas, Fisher became a customs agent at the northern end of Galveston Bay. Following a military confrontation with Texan settlers, Fisher was forced to resign his post in early 1832. Fisher then moved to Matamoros and began publishing a liberal newspaper, <I>Mercurio del Puerto de Matamoros</B></I>. <BR><BR>In October 1835, Fisher teamed up with Jose Antonio Mexia to organize a movement in New Orleans to attack Tampico with the intent of instigating a revolt among the eastern states of Mexico. As noted by Streeter (384): "If the Tampico Expedition ... had gained its objective, the course of Texas history would have been changed and its leader, Mexia, and its secretary, Fisher, would have been Texas heroes. By an unlucky accident it failed and its failure stirred the country because of the capture and execution of twenty-eight of its members... A linguist, an adventurer with physical and mental courage, an intriguer, inordinately fond of seeing his name in print, almost a blackmailer..., Fisher was one of the unusual characters who gravitated to Texas and enlivened its annals.... Austin speaks of Fisher as 'uno de aquellos adventureros miserables y desvergonzados que ni tienen patria ni pricipios de honradez.'"<BR><BR>Despite his reputation as a self-promoting instigator, Fisher is considered an important character in the history of the Republic of Texas. As such, this tale of his adventures on the Tampico Expedition are an important addition to any anthology of Texas history.<BR><BR><B>Reference:</B></I> Streeter 384. Raines, p. 82. Sabin 24460. See also: <I>The Handbook of Texas Online </B></I>(George Fisher).<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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