Itinerario para Parochos de Indios en que se tratan las materias mas particulares, tocantes a ellos by Peña Montenegro, Alonso de la - 1668

A fundamental source of information on the costumes of the Indians in Ecuador and the Missions, the exceedingly rare first edition. 1668. Madrid. Ioseeph Fernandez de Buendia. In folio (287 mm x 190 mm). 30 ff + 563 + 40. Contemporary vellum, ties as fragments but present, spine attractively lettered in ink, slightly soiled and dusty, in its original condition. First folio with marginal tears and fraying, a few mainly inner marginal worm holes, some faint water staining to a few leaves, stronger to some, manuscript ownership inscription on title page, however generally clean, a good copy. The exceedingly rare first edition. According to Sabin, this is "One of the most interesting accounts of the Indies, their laws, privileges, religion, etc." Pe�a Montenegro (1596 – 1687) was Bishop of Quito (Ecuador), a position of the outmost importance and influence which granted him access to Spanish policy towards the Indians in the New World and the practical efficiency of the Spanish treatment towards them; Kraus says "(Pe�a Montenegro) is of the highest importance for the knowledge of the laws regarding the missions among the Indian population: it contains the decrees, rules and regulations for the parish priests as missionaries". The work contains important references of the Missions and the costumes of the natives, reminding the clergy to respect their nature and adapt to their costumes. Pe�a condemns as a sin accepting a missions without knowing the native language –and thus urging the clergy to learn the local language instead of only promoting the Spanish. The work contains references to tobacco and excessive smoking –extremely early mention-, mining and idolatry amongst others. Provenance, manuscript ownership inscription on title page "Don Juan de Zeballos". Extremadamente rara primera edici�n de esta obra fundamental de Americana. Seg�n Sabin, se trata de "Una de la mas interesantes obras referentes a las Indias, sus leyes, privilegios, religi�n, etc.". Pe�a Montenegro (1596 – 1687) fue Obispo de Quito, posici�n de singular importancia e influencia que le gan� el acceso a la pol�tica de Espa�a hacia los Indios en el Nuevo Mundo y la eficiencia pr�ctica del tratamiento de los Espa�oles a ellos. Kraus dice, refiri�ndose a Pe�a, que "es de la mayor importancia para el conocimiento de las leyes de las misiones entre la poblaci�n indiana: contiene decretos, reglas y regulaciones para los sacerdotes de parroquia y misionarios". Medina, Biblioteca Hispano Americana, 1454. Palau, 217532.