Mexican revolutionary (1878-1923). As one of the major (and most colorful) figures of the first successful popular revolution of the 20th century, Villa’s notoriety attracted journalists, photographers, and military freebooters, of both idealistic and opportunistic stripes, from far and wide. Scarce TLS in Spanish, signed “Francisco Villa,” one page, 8.5 x 11, September 3, 1915. (The body of the letter is a carbon copy; Villa’s bold signature is in black ink.) Villa writes to his lawyer, “Francisco Lagos Chazaro, Deputized by the Executive Power, Wherever he may be.” In part (translated): “I hope that, as in the past, you will continue to have confidence in me, and in all those, civilians and soldiers, who make up the Division of the North.... You will excuse me from giving further explanations that can’t be communicated by telegraph even less at a time like the present, when I’m about to undertake a campaign. I simply beg you to believe that we are working for the good of the country to avoid an armed intervention, and ... to achieve pacification by overthrowing the dictatorship of Venustiano Carranza.... Please nominate three representatives with very broad powers for the peace conferences. They should work for the due ratification by the Convention of any accords that will be reached. I just want to add that we are trying to reorganize a government that will be recognized immediately by the government of the United States, and the Latin American republics. The government will immediately proceed to elections to arrive at a constitutional government as soon as possible. If it is physically impossible for your delegates to travel to the site of the conferences, it would be suitable ... to make use of some foreign chancellory, to name delegates of persons for here that are worthy of trust. This is evident from the copy I’m sending to you of the letter I am addressing to General Zapata.... I send you an affectionate hug and greet you most cordially and affectionately.” Villa was forced out of Mexico City in 1915, following a number of incidents between himself, his troops, and the citizens of the city, and the humiliation of President Eulalio Gutiérrez. After the return of Carranza and the Constitutionalists to Mexico City from Veracruz, Villa rebelled against Carranza and Carranza's chief general, Álvaro Obregón. Light intersecting folds (vertical fold between first and last names), otherwise fine, bright, clean condition. In his 1995 reference History Comes to Life, Kenneth Rendell notes that Villa’s autograph is rare and difficult to obtain in any form. Letters from Villa with such direct and significant content related to his revolutionary activities are of the greatest interest and scarcity. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
