Franz Mayer managed to gather an eclectic collection of art, which he decided to donate to Mexico. To that end, he created a trusteeship that secured the creation of a museum, which is named after him and was opened in 1986. His spirit as a collector made him gather more that 10,000 works of art and a similar number of books. His interest in photography is shown by important examples, which make up the collection, and in his own production. The requests for material about antiques from different auction houses began in 1933. This period coincided with the oldest art magazines and catalogues of the collection. The Connoisseur since 1936 and catalogues from Parke auction houses – Bernnet from 1939, The Marsen J. Perry Collection or catalogues from Sotheby's. From 1937 onwards, Franz Mayer requested book catalogues about antiques from houses like Cambridge Books in England and Bretano's in New York. It is important to point out that his archive correspondence shows a Franz Mayer interested in his collection, asking different specialists from that time to give their appreciation of the works of art that he had just bought or the ones he planned to get. Letters to museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, the Hispanic Society of New York, the National Museum of Ancient Art of Lisbon, as well as a number of galleries and collectors tell us this, in addition to the contacts he established with specialists within the Mexican art world, such as Manuel Toussaint. The acquisitions of art were followed by acquisitions of books on the same theme or similar ones. His literature thus became as specific as his purchases. A photographic album, made by the antiquarian Gonzalo Obregón in 1953, allows us a glance into the interior of Mayer's house. This was the first catalogue of his art. The receipts reveal the way in which Franz Mayer bought his pieces. Through Emil Hirsh, who led Hirsh Rare Books and Prints in London, Franz Mayer met Hellmuth Wallach. He would buy art objects in New York for Franz Mayer at least until the 1950's. In 1943, documents tell of his relationship with another art buyer, José Samaniego, who would buy tiles and talavera ceramics for Mayer's collection in Mexico between 1943 and until at least 1961. There is frequent correspondence in which Franz Mayer requested specific editions of El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha written to auction houses and individuals in different parts of Europe. The requests for the work by Cervantes were constant. The untiring searches of Franz Mayer today allow us to visit the halls of the museum that carries his name and peruse in the beauty of the objects the man behind his collection.
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