Epistolae Indicae. De stupendis et praeclaris rebus, quas diuina bonitas in India & variis insulis, per Societate[m] nominis Iesu operari dignata est, in tam copiosa gentium ad fidem conuersione [and] PAYVA, Jacobus – De Societatis Iesu origine libellus [...] [and] Societatis Iesu defensio adversus obtrectatores [...].

3 works in 1 vol., 8vo: [24]-496, [80]-[32] pp. (dampstain and sm. wormtrack in blank bottom margin of 1st quires).

Cont. limp overl. vellum, spine titled in ink (sl. loosening at front, head def.). Very good copy.

Very rare 1st edition, 1st issue, of an important collection of letters written by Jesuit missionaries in Japan and the East Indies, with some references to American Indians. Work II (also issued separately) is a defence of the Jesuit Order by the Portuguese theologian Diego de Payva d’Andrade (1528-1575). General index and errata at the end. Woodcut mark on titles; woodcut papal arms on title of work III. Ref. Bibl. Belg. II:266 E-12. - BT 8249 & 3950 - STC Dutch (BL) 104. - Pettegree NB 16514. - Adams A-1021 (Pt. II). - Cordier (Japonica) 49-51. - Carayon (Jésuites) 576 & 2853. - Palau 215.586 (Payva). - Sabin 22704. - Not in Alden/Landis. Prov. A few cont. annotations in work II. - Old ownership entries (partly deleted) i.a. on 1st title "As usum capucinorum Anghiae (i.e. Enghien/Edingen in Brabant). - Libr. stamp and ticket.