The Mining Guild of New Spain and Its Tribunal General 1770-1821 by Howe, Walter (1907-1966) - 1949

ix+534 pages with tables, facsimiles, appendices, bibliography and index. Octavo (8 3/4" x 6 1/4") bound in original publisher's red cloth with gilt lettering to spine in original jacket. Harvard Historical Studies number 56. First edition.

Ever since the Spanish Conquest, Mexico's most important industry has been mining, including in this general term the extraction of petroleum. At the end of the Colonial period, during one of the greatest eras of prosperity in the history of Mexican mining, the industry was organized as a guild, the Cuerpo de Mineria, which with its Tribunal General enjoyed a broad grant of authority from the King covering the fields of administrations, mining law, the financing of mines, and the education of mining engineers. In this work Walter Howe presents the first thorough study of the Mining Guild - how it was created, its history and what it contributed to mining industry and to the country as a whole.

Condition:

Corners bumped, light rubbing of extremities. Jacket lightly soiled; corners chipped; 1/4" chipped from spine head; page ends soiled, edge wear with some closed tears else a very good copy in about very good jacket.