IMAGINARY KINGDOM: TEXAS AS SEEN BY THE RIVERA AND RUBI MILITARY EXPEDITIONS, 1727 AND 1767.

Austin: Texas State Historical Assoc., 1995. Xvii,272pp. Index. Bibliography. Notes. Two illustrations by Jose Cisneros. Maps (six in color from 18th century). Illustrations. Introduction by Jack Jackson. Annotations by William C. Forster. First edition, first printing. The book is fine. The dust jacket shows a crease to the rear flap, else, fine. This volume contains reports from two of the most important Spanish inspections of Nueva Leon, Coahuila, and Texas: the 1727 expedition of Pedro de Rivera and the 1767 expedition of Marques de Rubi. The book is divided into two parts, one for each expedition. Each begins with a Jose Cisneros drawing of the commander, a concise map of the route followed with present day towns and rivers in place, and informative historical background. The diaries of each commandant are supplemented with other pertinent documents and a historical assessment by the editors. Taken together, these accounts provide a rare glimpse of life and land in New Spain’s northeastern frontier. There are vivid descriptions of vegetation, wildlife and indigenous peoples. The title, Imaginary Kingdom, refers to the conclusion of the two expedition leaders that this remote frontier was a very tenuously held royal possession. The book is enhanced by the insightful annotations and excellent maps.