📦 New Acquisitions
Found this unusual handmade book at a library sale. A little research led me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This weekend I attended the local quarterly Friends of the Public Library book sale. Towards the end of my time I meandered back to the foreign language book section. I typically glance over them because there are a few non-English authors I collect. They had set up a new area for "collectible" books in that section and I saw this little volume displayed on a little stand. The handmade appearance caught my eye. But seeing this in the collectible section, I figured it would be priced above my threshold to satisfy my curiosity. Upon opening the book, they had simply stuck a Post-It note on the inside cover with "$2". So, I thought, "Why not? It's fun."
Initially, I had assumed I had come across some student's class project for a history/social studies class: the handmade paper, the handbound codex, the glued-in paper cut-outs, the handwritten text all indicated, to me, a one-off sort of project that was well-done enough for me to buy it as an interesting artifact, despite the considerable water-damage. I have done some bookbinding of my own and the binding method was novel enough and clever enough that I wanted to look at it in greater detail.
When I got it home I started to look into the object and see if I could figure out what this thing really is. Upon researching, I came across a post on the Met's website describing something that was a dead-ringer for what I had in my hand. Upon closer inspection of the cover of my copy, knowing what I might be looking for now, I could make out the same attribution on mine as the one held by the Met.
The book is titled Historia de la Curación de Antigua de San Pablito Pahuatlán, Puebla. It contains 28 numbered pages of handwritten Spanish text describing traditional healing ceremonies, religious practices, and spiritual beliefs, accompanied by intricate, hand-cut paper figures representing various spiritual beings. The manuscript is constructed in an accordion-fold format, with fabric-reinforced covers and snap closures. It measures approximately 5½ × 7½ inches when closed.
Despite the extensive water damage to my copy, much of the handwritten text and the paper-cut illustrations remain intact. The damage has made the cover inscription difficult to read, but I can make out what appears to be "AUTOR SR. ALFONSO GARCIA TELLEZ" and a date in August 1978.
I'm planning to photograph or scan the entire manuscript at high resolution and reach out to one of the institutions that has studied his work to learn more about this particular example and how best to preserve it.
I've collected books for years, and while I love finding first editions and signed copies, it's discoveries like this that really keep me hunting. I bought it because I thought it was a fascinating little handmade object. I had absolutely no idea what I was bringing home.
Funny, I have two of his books waiting to be cataloged in my cabinet at work (an art research library). Haven’t looked at them closely yet but thought they might be his because they look similar to this one.
Okay, that’s pretty cool. I’d love to see the covers of the books you’ve got access to (if that kind of thing is allowed). Especially interested to see if one of them is the same title or if they’re examples of one of the other four titles he regularly made.
i totally would have bought that if i saw it! was this in ABQ? i am broke so i skipped the sale this past weekend. i am gonna cry if it was. but also i am glad for your find either way!
Oh, man, I totally understand being in that situation! I’ve had to make that call before. Even at this sale, I had to pass on a lot of books I would like to have grabbed.
Perhaps a salve to your dread will be to know this was not found anywhere near Albuquerque. I’m in South Carolina.
May the gods of book sale providence look upon you with favor and bestow upon you the bounty of many great finds to make up for any missed sales.
thanks for the kind wishes, friend! and i am glad for anyone who finds cool stuff, wherever they may be. i was definitely kicking myself for a second there though! good luck in your future hunts as well!
What an incredible find for you and also for Tellez! And also for scholars of indigenous art and occult history - thanks so much for sharing it
This isn't his particular geographic/historic specialy, but have you heard of Dr Justin sledge on YouTube? He collects and studies occult books and objects, and maybe he knows more or can point you in the right direction
I was shocked to find out it was anything more than an old school project, honestly. And then to find out it’s the work of a known indigenous Otami shaman and artist is pretty bonkers.
I haven’t heard of Sledge. I’ll check him out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Holy shit this is fantastic. Literal priceless folk wisdom and continuity of pre-colonial indigenous medico-magical practices recorded in writing and images. What a find, damn.
Thanks. I’m glad others are appreciated my find!
I hadn’t thought about IA, but not opposed. Once I scan it, I might just do that. Thanks for the idea!
Good point about r/bookbinding. Though there’s not a lot to reverse engineer. It’s just an accordion-fold that’s got a couple piece of fabric snapped across the left side of the binding to prevent it from fanning out so it can be read like a typical codex. The snaps can be removed to pull out the whole work like a scroll.
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u/fancy-sinatra 2d ago
Funny, I have two of his books waiting to be cataloged in my cabinet at work (an art research library). Haven’t looked at them closely yet but thought they might be his because they look similar to this one.