Huge collection of original telegrams affixed to pages, copied texts of telegrams, and three documents, all in Spanish, including two signed by Pancho Villa, 203 numbered pages, 8.25 x 10.5, bound in quarter-leather binding with textured burgundy boards, four raised bands with gilt titles on calf leather spine “Implementos de Agricultura Villa” and “1920-1921.”
Title page reads (translated): “Copy of the dossier relative to the purchase of implements of agriculture for Mr. Francisco Villa, by the Mexican Government, by way of the General Consulate of Mexico in El Paso, Tex. 1920-1921.” The telegrams, many to and from Luis Montes de Oca, are dated from August 28, 1920 to May 19, 1921. After serving as Consul General of Mexico in El Paso, Luis Montes de Oca served as Mexico’s Minister of Finance (1927-1932) and as Director of the Bank of Mexico (1935-1940). Bookplate of Mexican engineer Jose Ambrosi Carraro affixed inside front cover.
On May 20, 1920, Mexican Pres. Venustiano Carranza was assassinated and Adolfo de la Huerta became the interim president of Mexico. On July 28th, Villa and de la Huerta signed an agreement by which Villa accepted amnesty and became a private citizen in return for a large acre ranch in Canutillo, Durango, across the border from Chihuahua, as well as a pension and, as evidenced by this collection, supplies. Huerta was succeeded by Álvaro Obregón in December. Pancho Villa was assassinated in 1923 by “obregonistas,” fearful that he was planning to come out of retirement and oppose Pres. Obregón. The telegrams include those sent and received by Montes de Oca. Recipients and senders include Pancho Villa, Presidents De la Huerta and Obregón, General-in-Chief Eugenio Martinez, and supply companies.
Archive includes:
(1) DS, signed “Francisco Villa” and “L Montes de Oca” as Consul General de Mexico, one page, 8 x 10.5, February 28, 1921. Headed “Inventory of Items sent to Mr. Francisco Villa, in October 1920 and January 1921.” Signed under “Given” by Montes de Oca and “Received” by Villa. Listed with cost in dollars are: “2 Boxes with four Telephones…90.00 - 10 Tents 10 Bundles with Poles for Tents…200.00 – 1 cask Bracket.6.75 – January 5--1921 56 Rolls of wire prong…473.20 Total Dls 769.95.” A carbon copy signed in ink, with the seal of the Consul General of Mexico in El Paso, Texas, stamped in the blank left margin.
(2) DS signed “Francisco Villa,” one page, 8 x 10.5, December 20, 1920. A carbon copy signed in ink, on letterhead of the “Customs Agency of the National Railroads of Mexico, F.D. Gonzalez, Agent.” Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Headed “Inventory of the Merchandise Loaded on Boxcar No. 18192 and Delivered to Gen. Eugenio Martinez, Rosario, Durango, Whose Conductor is Mr. Noe Corona.” Signed by Corona under “Given” and by Villa under “Received as Agreed.” Delivered to Villa from Roe, Beers & Co., with the cost in dollars, are “2 Pieces Threshing Machine…$3100.00” (Order 3423 Reg. 353), from Krakauer, Zork & Co., “10 Insulated Glass Casks for Telephones…$326.00 (Order 3666 Reg. 369).” Total $3426.00. Numbered page “201” in upper right. There is also a related December 9, 1920 document, numbered page “194,” signed by Gonzalez and Corona.
Remainder of the archive is untranslated. Both documents rate in fine condition, with intersecting folds, and some mild edge spotting. The rest of the pages are evenly toned. Separation to both hinges of binding and scattered wear to covers. Accompanied by a complete original April 17, 1916, edition of the San Francisco Call, with top headline reading “Villa Dead, U.S. Wire Indicates.”
