HISTORIA DE LOS TRIUMPHOS DE NUESTRA SANTA FEE ENTRE GENTES LAS MAS BARBARAS, Y FIERAS DEL NUEVO ORBE: CONSEGUIDOS POR LOS SOLDADOS DE LA MILICIA DE LA COMPANIA DE IESUS EN LAS MISSIONES DE LA PROVINCIA DE NUEVA-ESPANA

by Perez de Ribas, Andres:

Price: $45,000.00
Shipping rates & speeds | 30 Day Return Guarantee Ask bookseller a question | E-mail to a friend

Madrid. 1645.. [40],763,[1]pp. Folio. Contemporary limp vellum, manuscript title on spine. Neat repair in lower blank margin of titlepage, not affecting text. A bit of scattered tanning and an occasional fox mark, but on the whole a near fine copy, in original condition. In a half morocco and cloth box. A great rarity of the Spanish Southwest, and still the dominant history of the region and of Jesuit activities there for the period from 1590 to 1644. The HISTORIA... provides an unparalleled description of the upper part of Mexico and what is now the southwest region of the United States in the first half of the 17th century. Andres Perez de Ribas (1576-1655) joined the Jesuit order in 1602 and arrived in Mexico in 1604 to proselytize among the native Indians. He was assigned to the area of northern Sinaloa, along the Pacific coast, and showed great ability from the start. Within a year he had baptized all the members of the Ahome nation, and a large part of the Suaqui tribe, together about 10,000 natives. In 1617 he was instrumental in the pacification and conversion of the Yaqui tribe. Perez de Ribas was recalled to Mexico City in 1620 to work in the college there, eventually becoming a provincial of the school. He returned to Rome in 1643, undertaking the present history (which he completed in 1644) and other histories still found only in manuscript. Perez de Ribas' HISTORIA... is divided into twelve parts, cumulatively giving a history of Jesuit activities in Mexico and the American Southwest, as well as providing a social and cultural examination of Indian customs, manners, rites, and superstitions. The first part of the book gives a history of Sinaloa and its people before the arrival of the Spanish. Parts two to eleven describe the arrival of the Spanish and the Jesuits in upper Mexico and their activities among the several tribes, including the conversion of the Hiaqui tribe, the missions at Topia, San Andres, Parras, and Laguna Grande, as well as the conversion of the Tepeguanes and their subsequent rebellion. The final part discusses missionary activities in other parts of New Spain, including an account of the martyrdom of nine Jesuit missionaries in Florida in 1566. There is also some information on Baja California. "Obra de extremo interes acerca de las actividades de los jesuitas en Sinaloa, California y Florida" - Palau. Of Perez de Ribas' HISTORIA..., Bancroft writes: "It is a complete history of Jesuit work in Nueva Vizcaya, practically the only history the country had from 1590 to 1644, written not only by a contemporary author but by a prominent actor in the events narrated, who had access to all the voluminous correspondence of his order, comparatively few of which documents have been preserved. In short, Ribas wrote under the most favourable circumstances and made good use of his opportunities." The history of Perez de Ribas is exceedingly rare on the market. In thirty years of bookselling, this is the first copy we have handled, and no copy has appeared at auction in that time. Very important and desirable, and an exceptionally attractive copy. WAGNER SPANISH SOUTHWEST 43. EUROPEAN AMERICANA 645/96. SABIN 60895, 70789. SERVIES 176. JCB (3)II:333. MEDINA (BHA) 1083. PALAU 222254. STREIT 1745. BARRETT 1984. BELL P169. HOWGEGO R35.

Bookseller Terms of Sale

All material is shipped subject to approval, but notification of return must be made within ten days and returns made in a prompt and conscientious fashion.