The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

18 photographs, mainly CDVs. The majority of the photographs depict royalty, politicians, military leaders, and civilians associated with the Second Mexican Empire. Ca 1864-1867. Various photographers based in the United States, Europe, and Mexico are represented, including Anthony/Brady, Fredricks, Neurdein, and Disderi. The name of the subject, when available, is written on mount recto or verso. Images in overall good to very good condition. Most feature some toning and light spotting, with wear to mount edges and corners.

Maximilian I of Mexico (1832-1867) was an Austrian archduke and younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, who reigned as the only Emperor of the Second Mexican Empire from 10 April 1864 until his execution on 19 June 1867.

In 1821, after Mexico gained independence, conservative and liberal parties materialized, including a monarchist faction. An envoy of Mexican monarchists approached Maximilian in 1859, offering him the throne, and he accepted the crown of Mexico in April 1864 with a pledge of French military support in exchange. At the cost of his conservative supporters, Maximilian was determined to enact liberal policies. The conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865 allowed the United States to more vigorously enforce the Monroe Doctrine. Recognizing Benito Juárez as the rightful head of state, the US stepped up its aid and threatened military action, prompting France to withdraw its forces from Mexico. This move destabilized the monarchy of Maximilian I, who was subsequently captured, tried, and executed in June 1867.

Approximately 6 photographs of Emperor Maximilian I and his wife Charlotte of Belgium (Carlota) (1840-1927) are enclosed, including 4 CDVs on individual cardstock mounts and 2 albumen prints affixed to the same cardstock mount showing Maximilian and Charlotte, each with period identification in lower margin.

The lot contains several images related to Maximilian’s reign as Emperor of Mexico, including:

Vistas, Mexicanas. Quretaro, Tomaoa del Cerro de las Campanas. Lugar Abonde Fusilaron, Maximiliano. Mexico: Briquet. View of the site where Maximilian and his associates were killed. 5 x 8 in. photograph on original cardstock mount with title and photographer's imprint in lower margin (toning and some soiling to prints and mount, some chipping and loss to lower right corner of mount). -- Three CDVs of Miguel Miramón, former President of Mexico and conservative general who was executed with Maximilian. -- CDV, Marshal Elie Frédéric Forey. -- CDV, Juan Prim y Prats, Spanish general and statesman. He was briefly Prime Minister of Spain until his assassination. -- CDV, Napoleon III, French Emperor. -- CDV, composite view of the French Ministers by Disderi, with miniature portrait of the photographer in lower right corner. -- CDV, composite view of French Marshals by Disderi, with miniature portrait of the photographer in lower right corner. -- CDV, studio portrait of Disderi, French photographer.

[With:] Empire du Mexique, 1865. 19 3/4 x 17 in. printed bond.

[Also with:] 6 x 8 3/4 in. photograph on cardstock mount showing a group of twelve men posed with a flag stamped "Porfirio Diaz / Mocorito." Two photographs are displayed on a table in the foreground, which may depict Diaz. The mount verso includes the signatures of each man featured in the photograph, and period inscriptions indicating that the portrait was taken in Mocorito in 1892. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (1830-1915) was a Mexican general and politician who was the dictator of Mexico from 1876 until his overthrow in 1911.