Villavicencio, Juan Joseph de

Vida, y Virtudes de el Venerable, y Apostolico Padre Juan de Ugarte de la Compañia de Jesus, Missionero de las Islas Californias, y uno de sus Primeros Conquistadores. Mexico: Imprenta Real, Colegio de San Ildefonso, 1752



4to (7 3/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 196 x 133 mm). Title within border of printer's ornaments, woodcut floral tail-piece; a few small stains on title, minor dampstain in upper outer corner in quires C-D, other scattered light stains. Modern limp vellum in antique style with ms. title on spine, remains of leather ties.

Cowan, p. 661;  Medina, Mexico, V, 183;  Palau 368936; Sabin 99694;  Wagner, Spanish Southwest 126

First edition. An important work on the early history of California and the first book to prove that California was not an island.

Father Ugarte (1662–1730) was a Jesuit who taught philosophy in Mexico and became rector of the College of San Gregorio. This biography includes an account of his expedition in 1705 to the south coast of California to navigate the coast and see if any port could be found in which a Philippine galleon could harbor. This journey enabled him to disprove the erroneous belief that California was an island.

Only one copy of this work has appeared at auction in the past thirty five years.