Horcajo Mines at the turn of the 20th c.

Unique family archives regarding the Horcajo Mines (Almodóvar del Campo) in Castilla-La Mancha, where silver ore was mined since 1858. From 1890 to 1895, the mine was exploited by Louis-Charles Legrand (1861-1920), who afterwards moved to the Camaquã copper mine in Brazil, and later to Mexico. All documents are related to him and his wife M.L.J. Fick. Incl.: 1. Album with a set of 25 albumen prints (23 x 16 cm). Mounted on cardboard, with a decorative gilt frame. Taken by V. Mendia, between 1892 and 1902, when the production decreased due to the impoverishment of the vein, and there were several changes of ownership until 1911 when mining stopped at a depth of 600 metres. A captivating photographic testimonial of the mines, machinery and equipment, wash basins and steam engines, an image of the staff and the panoramic landscape. Ref. Revista minera, metalurgica y de ingenieria 51 (16 March 1900). - 2. Album. Oblong: 50 photographs. Cardboard passe-partout. Half sheep, percaline covers, paper wrappers. Family pictures and panoramic views at Horcajo and some European travel destinations at the turn of the 20th c. - 3. Sm. album. Oblong: 16 cyan-blue prints. Paper wrappers. Almaden Mine. - 4. Sm. album. Oblong: 49 cyan-blue prints. Paper wrappers. Views, portraits and excavated ceramics from Parazuelos, Cueva Perneras. Often in the presence of Louis Siret, who founded his own company in Parazueleos in 1882 and started the archeological excavations in the region. - 5. 3 vol., oblong: 13, 14 and 12 cyan-blue prints. Paper wrappers. Parazuelos a.o. places in Murcia. - 7. 112 loose photographs, incl. cyan blue prints. - 8. Varia: newspapers "Lanza" (6 april 1986) with contribution on Horcajo Mines and an obituary of L.-Ch. Legrand.
Ref. J.F. Fernández - Minas del Horcajo. La aldea olvidada. (Ciudad Real, Ediciones Puertollano, 2020), 241 pp. - B.S. Baranda - The Horcajo mines. Mineralogical Record 25/1 (1994): 21.