Folio (297 x 207 mm). Engraved frontispiece of the royal arms by Fabregat, paraph of Josef de Galves on p.214. (Some minor marginal worming to a few leaves not affecting letters, some minor spotting.) Contemporary blind-tooled Spanish calf (a few repairs, some light soiling).

FIRST EDITION, A RARE BOOK OF MINING LAWS FOR NEW SPAIN

Galvez, appointed special commissioner charged with making reforms in Mexico's governance, was influential in leading the replacement of the Mexican provinces with 12 intendencias in 1786.  Mining was the most important economic activity in Mexico during the colonial period.  The Real Ordenanzas transcribes royal degrees relating to mining in New Spain, and provides information relating to the discovery of new mins, the operations of old mines, the training of workers, and the introduction of new technology and the role of the Tribunal de la Mineria. Only miners born in Spain were allowed to posses copies of the work.  Sabin calls it a "rare and valuable compendium of the old mining laws and mineral customs."  Palau 203088; Porrua (1949) 7552; Sabin 56260.