Squier, E.G. [Ephraim George].

Notes on Central America; particularly the States of Honduras and San Salvador: their Geography, Topography, Climate, Population, Resources, Productions, etc., etc., and the proposed Honduras Inter-Oceanic Railway.

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1855. Map frontis, xvi, 397 pp. Illus. with 5 maps (4 folding), 8 tinted plates with tissue guards, and 3 intext views. 8vo. Modern black cloth, gilt titles. First edition. A very good copy, newly rebound in modern black cloth, new endpapers, clean, crisp, and unmarked; first map with several extra folds and tears along folds, with archival repairs to verso, othe maps about fine with slight tears at inner margins. Palau 321801. Sabin 89981. Larned 4019. Pilling 3724. Item #46370

An excellent work by an early supporter of Central America. Ephraim George Squier (1821-1888) was a journalist and archeology who "sought a diplomatic appointment to Central America as the means to continue his archaeological research in that region....[becoming] the first diplomatic appointee of the Zachary Taylor administration in April 1849, serving as chargé d'affaires to the Central American states. During his tenure, he negotiated commercial treaties with San Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and he was authorized to sign an agreement with Nicaragua for the construction of an interoceanic canal.... Squier returned to Central America in 1853 as secretary and principal promoter of the Honduras Inter-Oceanic Railway Company. With a corps of engineers, he made a preliminary survey of its projected route, negotiated the necessary concessions from Honduras, and organized at New York a company for implementing the project.... He promoted the American 'rediscovery' of Central America occasioned by the acquisition of Oregon and California and championed its strategic importance for interoceanic communication. His scheme for immigration to Central America, its commercial development, and its political alignment with the United States were calculated to promote his own entrepreneurial interests as secretary of the Honduras railway company. Nonetheless, his writings on Central American antiquities, aboriginal peoples, geography, politics, economic productions, and commercial potential were significant contributions to knowledge." (Terry A. Barnhart: ANB. doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1601550).

Subject: Latin America