Catedral de Chihuahua Testigo de los Tiempos

167 pages with photographs and index. Oblong octavo (8 1/4" x 10 3/4") bound in original publisher's black wrappers. First edition. The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Regla, and St Francis of Assisi is the main ecclesiastical building of the Catholic Church in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is considered perhaps the finest example of colonial architecture in northern Mexico and dates from 1725. The cathedral is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chihuahua. The building is situated on the Plaza de Armas. It is designed in the Spanish Baroque style, and is in the form of a Latin cross, with a dome above the crossing. The facade is interesting in that it involves the use of solomonic columns which were not widely used in New Spain at the time. It has an octagonal window that was shipped from Germany and is considered a fine specimen of the glass-makers art. In addition, the front contains a collection of monuments celebrating the twelve apostles, with a clock above, crowned with the sculpture of an angel that was added in the 19th century. The royal Spanish coat of arms occupied the area below the angel, but was removed by architect José Félix Maceira in 1874 and the clock, which was acquired in London, was added, giving the facade its present appearance. The first stone was placed on 21 June 1725 by the Bishop of Nueva Vizcaya in Durango, Don Benito Crespo y Monroy (in those times, Chihuahua depended religiously upon, and was a part of, the Diocese of Durango.) The church was paid for with local commercial donations and by mine owners in the city and in Santa Eulalia, a pueblo to the east, and also by a tax of one real on each mark of silver that was mined in the province. (Wikipedia). Condition: Corners bumped and rubbed edge wear, "Banco Union" label affixed to title else a very good copy.