Rerum morumque in regno Chinesi maximè notabilium historia.Ex Hispanica lingua in Latinam transtulit F. Ioachimus Brulius. 2 parts in 1 vol.

Woodcut printer's devise on title, and decorative initials. 2 unn., 176 pp.; 222 pp., 14 unn. pp. index. 4to. Contemporary brown calf, t.e.g. Old monastery library stamp on title. Antwerp, F. Frickaert, 1655. First Antwerp edition in Latin. Gonzalez de Mendoza (1545-1618) was sent by Philip II of Spain on an embassy to the Emperor of China. Combined with his own travel experiences notes are made by the missionaries Martin de Herrada and Hieronymus Marin on their voyages to China in 1575 and 1579. This is followed by an account of another missionary journey to China, derived mainly by Martin de Rada. The observations of the travellers refer not only to China, but to those countries through which they passed on their way, and since all expeditions to China at that time used Manila as a base, there is a lengthy account of the Philippines. Besides its interest as an Americanum with ref. to Peru on unn. p. 3, Mexico & Magellan on p. 5 in part 2, and Havana, Jamaica & Santo Domingo, the work contains also descriptions of Japan and other places. According to Pardo de Tavera, this was the first book printed in Europe to mention the then recently founded city of Manila. The work first appeared in Rome in 1585, printed in Spanish ("Historia de las cosas mas nobles.del gran reyno de la China"), and is the first printed history on China written by an European. But the first Madrid printing was not until 1586, and at this time an account was inserted of the Espejo expedition to New Mexico, and it is often erroneously assumed that all editions contain this mention, but as all the Italian, Dutch and German translations were made from the original Rome edition, they do not. - A nice copy. - Medina (BHA) 1237; Brunet II, 1662; Alden/Landis III/68; Sabin 27782; Wagner, The Spanish Southwest, 7w; Cordier, Japonica col. 92; Cordier, Sinica col. 15. ASIA ; AMERICANA:NORTH AMERICA ; PHILIPPINES ;