1897 Garcia Cubas Map of Tlaxcala

A lovely map of Tlaxcala, Mexico, published in the 1897 edition of Atlas Geográfico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. It depicts the state in the midst of an infrastructure drive that included new roads and railways.

A Closer Look

The territory of Tlaxcala, Mexico's smallest state by area, also one of its most densely populated, is displayed in detail. The state's namesake city appears near center, towards bottom, and its districts are distinguished by color shading (the internal administrative divisions of the state today differ considerably from what is seen here). Aside from cities and towns, ranchos and haciendas are indicated, as well as roads, railroads, waterways, and mountains (some with elevations noted). The large number of railroads is notable, in part a result of the state's proximity to Mexico City, and in part due to the developmentalist policies championed by the state's governor Próspero Cahuantzi (1834 - 1915).

'El Prosperato'

Historically known for its autonomy and deep connection with indigenous culture, at the time this map was published, Tlaxcala's governor was Próspero Cahuantzi, one of the few leaders in 19th-century Mexico of indigenous heritage. Governing the state for more than 25 years, Cahuantzi was an ally of President Porfirio Díaz, and shared his combination of ambition, heavy-handedness, and affinity for industrial development. Like Diaz's 'Porfiriato,' Cahuantzi was such a towering figure that his name came to be associated with the time period at which he ruled, at least in Tlaxcala. He only lost power due to the Mexican Revolution in 1911; afterwards, he attempted a political comeback, but was arrested by the forces of Francisco 'Pancho' Villa and died in prison.

Publication History and Census

This map was published in Mexico City in 1897 by Vega y Cie. It is based on the 1887 work of Antonio García Cubas, and was updated with additional border work for the 1897 issue of the Atlas Geográfico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The atlas is represented in several institutional collections but is extremely scarce on the market. The individual maps, likewise, are scarce to the market.