[RODRIGUEZ GIRAM, Joao].
Litterae iaponicae annorum M.DC.IX et X. ad R. admodum piae mem. P. Claudium Aquavivam generalem praepositum Societatis Iesu A.R.P. Provinciali eiusdem in Iapone Societ. missae.
Antwerp, P. & J. Bellerus, 1615. 8vo. Woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut initials. Contemp. limp vellum, title in ink on spine with traces of colouring, remnants of ties. [24], 111, [1 blank] pp.
€ 8,500
Second Latin edition of the annual report and letters on the events that had taken place in Japan during the years 1609 and 1610, regarding the Jesuit mission. The Letter is written by the Portugese Father Joao Rodriguez (also called Giram, Giron Girao or Roiz; 1558-1633) and addressed to Father Claudius d'Aquaviva, and translated from Italian into Latin by Andreas Schottus. The first Italian edition was published in Rome, 1615, by Bartolomeo Zannetti, the first Latin edition, translated by Halloix, appeared in Douai, 1615. Father Rodriguez was admitted to the Jesuit order in December 1576. He left for Japan in 1583 and died there in 1633. He has written a number of works on Japan, a.o. a useful grammar of the Japanese language. He published annual reports over the years 1604-6, 1609-12, 1624, and 1625-1627.
Good copy; some browning, spine loosening. Cordier, Japponica, cols. 268; Alt-Japan-Katalog 1311; De Backer & Sommervogel VI, col. 1972, nr. 7; one copy in Dutch Royal Library.
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