Commercial Directory of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador. Bulletin No. 28. December, 1891.

Washington, D. C.: Bureau of the American Republics, 1891. 8-1/2 x 6 inches. 44pp + inside front cover. Tan wrappers printed in black. Spine paper perished; split to foot of front joint and gutter of first leaf; old ink price to front wrapper; small tears to front wrapper neatly repaired on verso with archival tape; toning. Good.

Bulletin issued by the Bureau of the American Republics to help facilitate commercial enterprise between the United States and, in this case, Central America. As an introductory paragraph here notes, "In compliance with the request of many merchants and manufacturers who desire to send Catalogues and Circulars to importers and dealers in Mexico, Central and South America, the Bureau of the American Republics has undertaken to publish a series of Commercial Directories of the several countries and colonies. The difficulty of securing the names and addresses of merchants has been greater than was anticipated, particularly those in cities and towns where there are no consular officers of the United States, and the lists herin given will be found incomplete. They are, however, as complete and accurate as the Bureau can make them with the present facilities at its command, and will doubtless be found useful to those who desire to introduce their wares to the knowledge of buyers on the southern continents...."

Included are the names of banks and bankers, coffee growers and exporters, druggists, grocers and suppliers of other provisions, dry goods importers, retail general merchants, wholesale importers and exporters, booksellers and stationers, sculptors and engravers, photographers, dealers in fancy goods and perfumes, and so on. All are presented by country, and divided further by location within each country.

Not uncommon institutionally, but scarce in the trade.