San Antonio, Juan Francisco de
Chronicas de la apostolica Provincia de S, Gregorio de religiosos descalzos de N.S.P.S. Francisco en las Islas Philipinas, China, Japon, &c. 1738-44. Sampaloc. Fr. Juan del Sotillo.
One of the most important works ever published in Manila
First edition. A true testimony to the excellence of the Manila printing industry, titles in red and black, woodcut floral borders, text in double columns, engraved vignettes, and the famous plate of the 23 Gloriosos Martyrios, printed in Manila. The plate shows the martyrdom of San Pedro Bautista along with his 22 other companions in Japan (1597).
First edition. A true testimony to the excellence of the Manila printing industry, titles in red and black, woodcut floral borders, text in double columns, engraved vignettes, and the famous plate of the 23 Gloriosos Martyrios, printed in Manila. The plate shows the martyrdom of San Pedro Bautista along with his 22 other companions in Japan (1597).
Further images
Three volumes in folio (308 x 204 mm). 32 ff., 782 pp., 21 ff.; 15 ff., 579 pp., 32 ff.; 19 ff., 839 pp., 56 ff., engraved plate. Fine 19th century green crushed morocco by C. Smith with supralibros on boards, double quintuple gilt fillet to boards, raised bands to spine, compartments tooled and lettered in gilt, inner gilt dentelle, gently rubbed, some very minor scratches, else perfect. Printed on rice paper, an exceptional copy of this fabulously produced Philippine imprint, some light toning and foxing here or there but overall in exceptional condition.
The Chronicas, besides being a magnificent example of Philippine printing - branded by Medina as “sobresaliente” [outstanding]- is an invaluable source of information. The three volumes –it is very rare to find all three volumes together- provide a comprehensive history of the Spanish Franciscan Missions in the Philippines from their arrival in the islands until 1741. The first volume gives a detailed description and history of the Philippine Archipelago, including its conquest by Spain, the early exploration, the native people and their customs; according to Medina, it was said to be used by sailors as a Derrotero for navigation purposes. In addition, mostly in the second volume, accounts of the first Spanish missionaries to visit Macao and China are to be found, along with abundant information on Cochinchina, Borneo, Malacca and the Pacific. The third volume is devoted entirely to the Spanish missions in Japan and is illustrated with a magnificent engraved plate.
San Antonio was a Franciscan Priest born in Madrid in 1682, he went to the Philippines in 1724, where he served as reader of theology and secretary of the Province; he would spend a large portion of his life living amongst the natives until death found him in Manila in 1744.
Provenance: Coleccion Hispano Ultramarina A. Graino, bookplate on front pastedown; from the library of British collector Henry Huth (1815-1878), his bookplate engraved on morocco to front pastedown; Spanish private noble collection; offered with a Spanish export license. Boards with supralibros of a Ram and initials “H” and “T[?]”.
Cordier Japonica, 434; Medina, Manila, 202; Palau 289961; Brunet V, 107; Sabin 75987; Salva, 3395 (“dificilisimos de reunir”).
The Chronicas, besides being a magnificent example of Philippine printing - branded by Medina as “sobresaliente” [outstanding]- is an invaluable source of information. The three volumes –it is very rare to find all three volumes together- provide a comprehensive history of the Spanish Franciscan Missions in the Philippines from their arrival in the islands until 1741. The first volume gives a detailed description and history of the Philippine Archipelago, including its conquest by Spain, the early exploration, the native people and their customs; according to Medina, it was said to be used by sailors as a Derrotero for navigation purposes. In addition, mostly in the second volume, accounts of the first Spanish missionaries to visit Macao and China are to be found, along with abundant information on Cochinchina, Borneo, Malacca and the Pacific. The third volume is devoted entirely to the Spanish missions in Japan and is illustrated with a magnificent engraved plate.
San Antonio was a Franciscan Priest born in Madrid in 1682, he went to the Philippines in 1724, where he served as reader of theology and secretary of the Province; he would spend a large portion of his life living amongst the natives until death found him in Manila in 1744.
Provenance: Coleccion Hispano Ultramarina A. Graino, bookplate on front pastedown; from the library of British collector Henry Huth (1815-1878), his bookplate engraved on morocco to front pastedown; Spanish private noble collection; offered with a Spanish export license. Boards with supralibros of a Ram and initials “H” and “T[?]”.
Cordier Japonica, 434; Medina, Manila, 202; Palau 289961; Brunet V, 107; Sabin 75987; Salva, 3395 (“dificilisimos de reunir”).
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