[Acosta, Manuel]

4to in 8s (195 x 140mm.), including 6 pages of examples of woodcut japanese script, modern half vellum, text rather spotted, some offsetting of Japanese characters, lower joint splitting 

Cordier, Japonica 59

text rather spotted, some offsetting of Japanese characters, lower joint splitting
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

the first official jesuit history of the eastern missions. This is the third, expanded, Latin edition of this work, and the first printed in Italy.

The first edition of this work united Acosta's unpublished manuscript Historia dos missiones do oriente até o anno de 1568 (a series of letters from the missions with a commentary by Acosta, who taught at Coimbra) with an appendix of letters from Japan edited by Maffei (De Japonicus rebus epistolarum libri IV), and was published in Dillingen in 1571. The present, third, edition contains additional material, including the famous letter by the King of Bungo in Japanese characters permitting the Jesuits to build a church in the province of Yamaguchi (ff. 225-228) and a 'Liber quintus' to De Japonicis rebus epistolarum libri IV (ff. 194-224).

There is another issue of this work with a different title-page, also printed in Naples in 1573, by Horatio Salviani (see Cordier footnote, and sales at Christies, lot 115, 7 June 2000, and lot 196, 15 July 2005). This issue is complete despite the wording on the title 'Volumen primum'.