AN ABSTRACT OF THE ORIGINAL TITLES OF RECORD IN THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

Austin: The Pemberton Press, 1964. 182pp. Introduction by Mary Lewis Ulmer. Marbled paper over boards with leather corners and spine, paper spine label. Reprint edition, limited to 500 copies of the exceedingly rare 1838 original. Laid-in is the publication announcement and order form. Slight crinkling to the paper spine label, else, a near fine copy (no dust jacket issued). Mary Ulmer, from the introduction: “While collectors of Texana, landsmen, and historians will value this book, all Texas genealogists and genealogical libraries will find it especially desirable. It should be the first source checked in search for Texas ancestors.” Streeter, Bibliography of Texas 270: “This is one of the fundamental sources of information on the settlement of Texas…” In 1838 the Texas Legislature required the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office to print one thousand copies of the abstract books in his office and that the Secretary of State distribute these to local offices including the county land boards. Thus, this much needed information regarding old land grants and titles was placed in the hands of local officials. In columns, this volume has the name of each grantee, date of issuance of the title, the quantity of land, where it was situated, and a column for remarks. Each colony or empresario grant is shown separately with the grantees listed in alphabetical order. Reportedly, there are only eight complete copies of the original book of which only three in Texas are available to the public. This book is valuable to the historian or genealogist in locating the settlers in Texas from 1791 to 1836 who obtained land grants from Spain or Mexico.