Historiarum Indicarum libri XVI. Selectarum, item, ex Jindia Epistolarum. eodem interprete Libri IV
Author: Maffei, Giovanni Pietro (1533-1603)
Year: 1588
Publisher: Apud Philippum Juncatam
Place: Florence
Description:
[4]-570+[2 blank]+[28] pages with woodcut device on title, woodcut historiated initials and decorations. Folio (12 1/2" x 8 1/4") bound in contemporary vellum. (European Americana 588/57; Palau 146976; Sabin 146976, Western Travellers in China 11) First edition of Maffei's great history of India.
Ten Latin editions, two in Italian and two in French appeared before 1621. Based on primary material, it still remains a valuable account today. The work is divided into 16 books. Most of it deals with the Portuguese conquests and Jesuit missionary work in the East Indies and India up to about 1557 Borba de Moraes page 508 "a classic work on the subject ... writes extensively about Brazil, describing it very accurately"; Maffie was the firs author to use Jesuit letters extensively, as well as many secular sources including Fernando Mendes Pinto.
Condition:
Contemporary velum, with moderate wear, re-backed in vellum with original spine label laid down; minor worming and foxing, intermittent moderate damp staining, pages 410 and 419 blank due to a printing error; early inscription and inked stamped on title page, title to head end pages, new end papers and paste-downs else a good to very good copy.
Year: 1588
Publisher: Apud Philippum Juncatam
Place: Florence
Description:
[4]-570+[2 blank]+[28] pages with woodcut device on title, woodcut historiated initials and decorations. Folio (12 1/2" x 8 1/4") bound in contemporary vellum. (European Americana 588/57; Palau 146976; Sabin 146976, Western Travellers in China 11) First edition of Maffei's great history of India.
Ten Latin editions, two in Italian and two in French appeared before 1621. Based on primary material, it still remains a valuable account today. The work is divided into 16 books. Most of it deals with the Portuguese conquests and Jesuit missionary work in the East Indies and India up to about 1557 Borba de Moraes page 508 "a classic work on the subject ... writes extensively about Brazil, describing it very accurately"; Maffie was the firs author to use Jesuit letters extensively, as well as many secular sources including Fernando Mendes Pinto.
Condition:
Contemporary velum, with moderate wear, re-backed in vellum with original spine label laid down; minor worming and foxing, intermittent moderate damp staining, pages 410 and 419 blank due to a printing error; early inscription and inked stamped on title page, title to head end pages, new end papers and paste-downs else a good to very good copy.
