REMONTA Y CRIA CABALLAR. Ministerio de la Guerra - ÁLBUM DE LOS SERVICIOS DE REMONTA Y CRIA CABALLAR / Mandado Formar Por Reales Órdenes de 28 De Enero de 1899 Y 28 de Enero de 1899. / Madrid 1899 / Fotografías del Comisario de Guerra D. Jose Bonafos / Fototipia de Hauser & Menet, Madrid.

REMOUNT AND BREEDING OF HORSES: Ministry of War - ALBUM OF HORSE REMOUNT AND BREEDING SERVICES / Ordered to be formed by Royal Orders of January 28, 1899 and January 28, 1899. / Madrid 1899 / Photographs by the War Commissioner D. Jose Bonafos / Phototypes by Hauser & Menet, Madrid.

Published by the Spanish Ministry of War, Madrid, 1899.

Harcovers, leather covered spine and blue cloth covered boards, the covers have blind stamped framing with corner designs, the front cover also has silver embossed titles; large format 9x13 inches oblong (23x33 cm). Pagination: [1] front free endpaper, [1] title page, [1] introductory page, 1-169 PHOTOTYPED PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS - each printed on its own leaf, [1] rear free endpaper.

A comprehensive photographic record of where Spain bred, healed and prepared horses for use in the Spanish-American War. Locations were primarily in autonomous regions in or near Andalucia, including: Jerez; La Rambla, Barcelona; Baeza; Valladolid; Zaragoza; Trujillo; Ubeda; Cordoba; and Moron.

During the Spanish-American War, Spanish soldiers primarily rode horses of Spanish origin, mostly Andalusian horses, which were renowned for their agility, endurance, and temperament, giving them a significant advantage in battle against American forces who may have had less experience with such horses; these Spanish horses played a key role in the cavalry operations of the Spanish military throughout the conflict, most notably in CUBA.

GOOD condition: The covers have some wear to the edges, spine folds and spine, including some indents and scrapes; the cloth covered boards have some light marks and shelf rubs; there has been some professional restoration to the corners, overall the covers are sturdy and attractive. Internally, the inner hinges have been professionally repaired, the pages have some toning especially to the margins, there are a few spots and smudges here and there, otherwise the inner pages are tight, bright and clear. A solid, nicely presentable copy.

Quite a rare, historic document. OCLC shows only one library worldwide with a copy, in Galicia, Spain. Horse remounting - the end of an era.

About Military Remount Services (from Wikipedia):

******Remount referred to the provision of fresh horses, particularly for military purposes. The word encompasses both the animals themselves and the means by which they were provided. In many cases, remounts were horses provided to replace those killed or injured in battle.

The origins of the concept date to the 15th century. Military-based organization of remount programs can be dated to the late 1700s, when both Great Britain and the colonies of what became the United States each created programs for the purchase and training of military animals.

The need for remounts for military use declined with the use of horses in warfare generally, particularly following World War II.******

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