Mexico - United States. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Tratado de paz, amistad, límites y arreglo definitivo entre la República Mexicana y los Estados-Unidos de América ... con las modificaciones con que ha sido aprobado por el Senado, y ratificado por el Presidente de los Estados-Unidos. [With:] Esposición dirigida al Supremo Gobierno por los comisionados que firmaron el tratado de paz con los Estados-Unidos. Querétaro: J. M. Lara, 1848



8vo (9 3/4 x 6 1/2 in.; 248 x 165 mm); light dampstain in upper left corner of first four leaves and last few leaves of second work, a few leaves in second work lightly browned. Original pink printed wrappers, in a red half-morocco slipcase, gilt-stamped title on spine; head and foot of backstrip torn.

Cowan II, p. 252; Graff 2775; Dawson & Howell, Libros Californianos, p. 29

First edition of "the treaty that gave California to the United States" (Dawson & Howell). This is the second issue, with the imprint place of the second title spelled correctly.

The Mexican-American War lasted for two years until General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City in August 1847. President Polk's commissioner and Mexican officials immediately began negotiations for a peace treaty, and one was signed in the town of Guadalupe Hidalgo on 2 February 1848. By this treaty, Mexico gave up fifty-five percent of its territory in exchange for fifteen million dollars in compensation. A second edition of the treaty appeared the same year in Mexico City with additional protocols.

In the Esposición following the treaty, the Mexican commissioners justified the decisions made in negotiation for it seemed to many Mexicans that the treaty gave away a good deal of their country.