Tasco en el Año de Mil Novecientos Veinteocho

Very Good. 1933. Hardcover. Portfolio of 55 plates depicting the city of Tasco, Mexico and how it was in the year 1928. No publication information; printed by Manuel Casas in Mexico City, October 1933. Portfolio is limited to 200 copies; this copy is unnumbered; signed by Cervantes on page vii in black ink. Fifty-five silver gel DOP prints with various surface sheens are tipped onto black cloth backing and heavy cardstock leaves; each photo has a printed caption in Spanish; leaves are unbound and housed in a portfolio with cloth boards, title label on front board and spine, and cloth ties. Portfolio has light wear to edges and light soiling to title label; title page, dedication page and last leaf of text block have insect damage, including three ½" - 1" holes on each leaf, not affecting photos; a few leaves have moderate foxing and soiling; some photos have light silvering. The city of Tasco is more frequently known as Taxco or Taxco de Alarcón, and is located in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. The compiler of this stunning work was Enrique A. Cervantes (1898-1953) , a civil engineer, bibliophile, photographer, and historic preservationist. "He spent his life researching, documenting, restoring, and photographing the architectural and decorative arts of colonial Mexico. Over his lifetime, he published 22 books covering themes that included the history of urbanism in Mexico, Mexican cities of the Viceregal period, the crafts of talavera pottery and tile-making in Puebla, ironworking, and retablos of the 16th through 18th centuries. From 1928 to 1942 he produced ten limited edition portfolios of original photographs depicting the colonial heritage of various Mexican cities" (The Latin American Library at Tulane). The "Templo parroquial, Santa Prisca," (the parish temple of Santa Prisca) , is photographed in detail; most of the images in this portfolio are dedicated to the temple's architecture and artwork. Other scenes depicted in this album include "Casa Humboldt," "Convento y Templo de San Bernardino de Sena," "Barrio y Capilla de San Miguel," "Cuadrilla de San Antonio Tehuitolepec," along with street views, the main plaza, and a panorama of the city from Guadalupe hill. The beautiful architecture and landscape of Tasco is presented in the album, Cervantes emphasizing colonial art and architecture of the city. ; B&W Plates ; 4to 11" - 13" tall; Signed by Author .