Medina, Balthasar de
Second or third edition, the first to be illustrated apparently, rare when preserving the plate, the official account of the first Mexican-born Saint, and one of the Protomartyrs of Japan, this Mexican edition is extremely rare, with only a handful of copies recorded in institutions worldwide.
Further images
4to. [28], 176 pp., engraved plate of the crucifixion of St. Felipe de Jesús at f. 1 (in effect, as a frontispiece) with an early annotation ‘Noviciado’. Contemporary limp vellum, spine lettering in ink, partially remnant ties. A crisp, clean copy, with only occasional unobstrusive foxing.
St. Felipe de Jesús (1572-1597) was one of the Protomartyrs of Japan, the group made up of 26 Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries and Kirishitans who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597 on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; he first lived in Manila, before finding his vocation and becoming a Priest. He joined the Franciscan order and served in the Philippines before being sent to Japan. He became the first Mexican-born saint, and the first native of the Americas to be canonized.
This account was written by the Mexican historian Balthasar de Medina (1634-1697); evidently very influential.
Provenance: from the collection of Nicholas Ingleton, Australia.
Cordier 395; Palau 159375 note; Streit-Dindinger VI, 1446.
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