CONSIDERED THE RAREST SAN ANTONIO BOOK
275. RODRÍGUEZ, [José María].
Rodríguez Memoirs of Early Texas. [San
Antonio: Passing Show Printing Co.], 1913. 76 pp.,
frontispiece portrait, text illustrations (mostly
photographic). 8vo, original suede with turquoise and
yellow olive green lettering and decoration, original
leather ties. Very fine, with engraved Rodríguez
family presentation card laid in. Exceedingly
rare.
First edition. CBC 434. Dykes, Collecting
Range Life Literature, p. 20 (designating a print run
of 100 to 200 copies). Howes R398 (stating 100 copies
printed). Rader 2814: "The principal families living in San
Antonio prior to the annexation of Texas." The Handbook
of Texas Online (Rodríguez). Pingenot:
Rodríguez (ca. 1829-1913) was a native San
Antonian, as were his father and grandfather on both his
father’s and his mother’s side. As a small boy
Rodríguez met W. B. Travis and was in San Antonio
during the Alamo battle. Later, he served as county
assessor-collector during the governorship of Sam Houston.
After the Civil War he moved to Laredo where he was elected
county clerk and then county judge, an office he held
continuously for thirty-five years until his death.
Rodríguez’ daughter, Alice, was the first wife
of then Lieutenant John L. Bullis. The Rodríguez
memoirs, published in a limited edition of 200 copies for
the friends of the family, is considered by many to be the
rarest San Antonio book. It contains much important
information on San Antonio as well as Texas history.
Especially valuable are the sketches of sixteen pioneer San
Antonio Mexican families.
($750-1,000)