TEXAS: HER RESOURCES AND HER PUBLIC MEN. A COMPANION FOR J. DE CORDOVA’S NEW AND CORRECT MAP OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

Waco: Texian Press, 1969. vii,375,32pp. Index. Introduction by Dayton Kelly. Reprint of the rare 1858 original. Except for a slight bump to the top of the spine and tiny indention to the top edge, it is bright, fine copy. The dust jacket exhibits damp staining to the front panel, overall, good+. Jenkins, BTB 38A: “The first attempt at an encyclopedia of Texas, this work contains a wealth of still-useful material…De Cordova did some of the first genuine scholarly research ever done in Texas while compiling the book, interviewing leading men, researching newspaper files, searching county court records, and striving for pinpoint accuracy.” Raines, Bibliography of Texas p. 65: “A fine Texas cyclopedia at the time.” Issued concurrently with the revised edition of his 1849 map of Texas, it contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in immigrating to Texas. There is material on climate, land laws, railroads, the cotton industry, lumber industry, sheep and cattle raising, farming and a host of other subjects. Includes biographical sketches of prominent Texans, an article on each county and lists all the post offices and forts in the state. This reprint adds a lecture on Texas given by De Cordova to the New York Geographical Society on April 15th, 1858.  A very important book for its information on 19th century Texas.