Phillips, John, and Alfred Rider | Mexico Illustrated; a fine and rare series of large-format views

Phillips, John, and Alfred Rider 

Mexico Illustrated, with descriptive letterpress, in English and Spanish. London: E. Atchley, Library of Fine Arts, 1848

Folio (552 x 362 mm). Tinted lithographic additional title and 25 tinted lithographic plates printed by Day & Son after Rider, Phillips, and others; lacking text leaf for plate 10, a few closed marginal tears, some light spotting and toning. Publisher’s red morocco–backed red cloth, upper cover stamped in gilt, spine lettered in gilt; rubbing and wear, mainly to edges, areas of restoration.

A fine and rare series of large-format views published near the close of the Mexican–American War.

The work combines first-hand topographical records with adapted historical material, including a seventeenth-century engraving after Arnoldus Montanus and several plates derived from the earlier publications of Carl Nebel and Pedro Gualdi. Three subjects relate directly to the conflict: the view of Vera Cruz references General Scott’s siege and bombardment in March 1847; the view of Rio Frio depicts the Mexican army on the march; and the plate of Matamoros shows vessels flying the United States flag and alludes to the initial military advance to the Rio Grande in January 1846.

Beyond its wartime relevance, the sequence offers a comprehensive pictorial survey of Mexico, beginning at Campeche and following the Gulf Coast past Vera Cruz before turning inland to Jalapa, Orizaba, Puebla, and Mexico City, then proceeding north through the central states to San Luis Potosí and Monterrey, and finally returning east to the mouth of the Rio Grande at Matamoros.

REFERENCES

Abbey, Travel II:671; Roberto L. Mayer, “Phillips, Rider y su álbum Mexico Illustrated: quiénes fueron los autores de los dibujos originales,” Anales del Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas 76 (2000), pp. 291–306; Sabin 62498; Palau 224780