8vo, (195 x 145 mm). 8 ff., 196 pp. Contemporary vellum, slightly soiled, text block starting. Title page with tears entering printed surface but not causing loss, some edge wear, occasional waterstaining mostly confined to margins, scattered foxing, remnants of glue at gutter of title page, old inscriptions crossed out on title page and following leaf, overall good.

A wonderful article that explains the book can be found here:

https://historiadelaastronomia.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/el-primer-lunario-criollo1.pdf

“La labor astronómica del padre Buenaventura Suárez constitu- ye uno de los episodios más atrayentes entre los que protagonizaron miembros de la Compañía de Jesús en América Latina. Por su tras- cendencia y significado, fue objeto de reconocimiento y admiración tanto de sus contemporáneos (sacerdotes, laicos y astrónomos) como de los historiadores posteriores.” (Tignanelli).

Suarez (1679 – 1750) was born in Santa Fe (Argentina); what little is known today about him is thanks to Jesuit historians and scholars Juan Salaberry and William Furlon Cardiff. Son to Antonio Suarez Altamarino and Maria de Garay, his birth is recorded in the archive of the Metropolitan Church of Santa Fe for the year 1682. After being admitted into the Society of Jesus in 1695, he goes to Cordoba to study Philosophy and Theology; from there, Suarez is destined to Paraguay, and shortly to the missions of San Cosme and San Damian, then to Itapua and Santa Maria la Mayor. Suarez dedicated his life to living amongst the Guarani’s, becoming well aware of their customs and way of life.

Each folio deals with a year, with a table on recto detailing every month and an explanation of the expected astronomical phenomena for said year [“Nota Vulgares”, “Temporas”, “Fiestas Movibles” y “Eclipse”].

His masterpiece, this Lunario, or astronomical calendar, is the sole work of of its kind to have been entirely created in the missions of Paraguay; furthermore, Suarez himself crafted many of the instruments necessary for its confection. It contains the movements of the Sun and the Moon, as they will be seen in the Jesuit Missions of Paraguay, from 1740 until 1841. The first edition was published in Lisbon, undated, however it is given priority to this one, the second edition.

Provenance: final flyleaf with inscription by a Pedro Murillo, giving details of his birth and education.

Rare, we could only find 5 copies in the United States (JCB, Georgetown, Indiana University, Harvard Houghton Library, and Yale); in addition to these, we locate copies at DIBAM, BNE (2 copies)

Sabin, 93296; Palau, 323201; Backer-Sommervogel, VII, 1660-1661.