TIERRA PERFECTA, OR "PERFECT LAND" OF THE MISSION FATHERS. LOWER CALIFORNIA, THE PENINSULA, NOW OPEN TO COLONISTS
New York: W. E. Webb; San Diego, California: Geo. H. Sisson; London: Captain Francis Pavy; no date (circa 1886). Single sheet, folded (35 ¾” x 16 ¾” unfolded, each page 9 ½” x 6”). [24] p. with 6 black-and-white halftone photographs and 2 maps. The text is clean and unmarked. Tiny nicks at the folds, with a pencil notation to the front panel and a few small tape mends; otherwise very good. Barrett 1306.
Promotional piece encouraging emigration to Baja California, with descriptions of the agricultural opportunities and the city of Ensenada. George H. Sisson was an American mining engineer and entrepreneur who purchased a large land concession in Baja California on July 24, 1884 with Luis Huller. This concession extended between 29 degrees north and 32 degrees, 42 minutes north and included Cedros Island. Additional purchases extended their holdings to 13,325,630 acres. In 1885, Sisson and Huller formed the International Company of Mexico in Hartford, Connecticut, with Sisson as general manager. The business was sold to the British Mexican Land and Colonization Company in 1888. These land holdings were emblematic of the problems in land distribution during the Portiriato (1876-1911); related lawsuits continued for years afterward. Item #77019
Price: $400.00