Artillería. Lit. A. Pech. Bolívar 66.

Very rare. Lithograph on paper. Measurements: 21 x 31.2 cm / 8.26 x 12.28 in. Copy in good condition.

Interesting lithograph of a military gunner's uniform, together with the draft horses, resolved with a hierarchical scale for the military figure. During the full presidency of Domingo F. Sarmiento, in 1872 -the same year that the prince edition of Martín Fierro by José Hernández appeared-, the "Regulation proposed by the General Command of Arms was published, prescribing the uniform that the Army of the Republic approved by the Superior Government and commanded to put in observation", an extremely rare title in the Argentine bibliophile. Among several plates, it included two with uniforms, the present one and another of Cavalry. A year before and also by the American Printing Office, it had been published without illustrations, in 1872 the final version came to light, with the engravings and the revised text. It remained in force until 1881. (1)

The lithographic house of A. Pech illustrated several titles; among them, The last four years of Spanish domination… by Francisco Saguí and A pleasant description of the Argentine Republic, by Estanislao Zeballos. In 1873 he announced the activity of him in the General Guide of Trade with the same address indicated in this sheet.

In 1892 he diversified his business, entering the tobacco trade, as successors of José Daumas, a French exporter for the manufacture of cigarettes of National Manufacture, with the known brands Ideales and Tip-Top Bouquet. (2) The store was located in the 679 Cangallo Street, it is probable that the entrance of it to the tobacco market has originated in the printing of the stamps. Later, it was also dedicated to the exportation of wines, with premises at 1383 Charcas Street, according to the Kraft Yearbook of 1913, by then the printing press was operating under the Pech and Girard reason, with a workshop in 55 Cerrito Street. Pech was a member of the graphic arts section of the Argentine Industrial Union, when he acted as Printing and Lithography A. Pech.

Notes:

1. We are grateful for the information provided by the historian, Dr. Guillermo Palombo, author of the text "The uniforms of the Argentine Army in 1872" published in the "Military Magazine" No. 704 (Buenos Aires, Círculo Militar, 1981, pp. 61-64 ).

2. See Alejandro Butera. Pioneers del Tabaco. The Manufacturers of Cigarettes in Argentina 1850-1920. Bariloche, 2019, p. 200.