4pp, bifolium. Woodcut eagle device at head. (Horizontal crease, old tape repair with browning, some minor wrinkling.) Matted and framed (unexamined out of frame). Provenance: Darrel Brown (sold Heritage, December 2007).

RARE ISSUE OF AN EARLY TEXAS NEWSPAPER

Between 1829 and 1835, the government of Coahuila and Texas issued four periodicals, of which Gaceta was the second most prominent.  This issue includes a July 8 communication from Rafael Eca y Musquiz, Minister of the Supreme Court, to don Miguel Falcon, Governor of the State, whereby President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna has asked Musquiz to assume the Executive Power of the state to "calm the spirit of discord in Texas and to apply the severity of the law to those who attempt to pervert the tranquility and excite commotion" (translated).

In May, then-governor Agustine Viesca left Monclova with the government archives intending to establish Bexar (present-day San Antonio) as the capital of the department of Texas. The issue includes an editorial commenting on the actions of Viesca and the two opposing parties within the government of Mexico: "We believe, without fear of error, that in the Texas Colonies there does not exist aims of overthrowing the government..." (translated). The editorials printed within this issue are in support of General Cos' 5 July Proclamation, issued at Matamoros, warning the inhabitants of the three departments of Texas (San Antonio de Bexar, La Bahia, and Nacogdoches) that any actions in favor of the former authorities will cause war.  45-days after this issue, General Cos commenced his march with 500 soldiers from Matamoros to San Antonio, igniting the first fire in Texas' battle for independence.  See Streeter, Bibliography of Texas, Part II, vol.III, pp.261-263. VERY RARE: Only one other copy of this issue of Gaceta is known; it is held in the Saltillo Archives.   Not in Charno; not in Streeter. CHECK STREETER BIBLIO QTD HERE.