Nov 06, 2014 - Sale 2364

Sale 2364 - Lot 301

Price Realized: $ 46,800
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 15,000
(MEXICO--1669.) San Vitores, Diego Luis de. Memorial que el P. Diego Luys de Sanvitores, religioso de la Compañía de Jesus, rector de las Islas Marianas . . . pidiendo le ayuden, y socorran para la fundacion de la mission de dichas islas. [40] leaves. 4to, later 1/2 sheep, moderate wear; closed tear and marginal staining on title page, some sidenotes cropped, minor foxing, bookplate removed from front pastedown. México: Francisco Rodríguez Lupercio, 1669

Additional Details

A substantial and important first report by the first missionary to the Marianas Islands. The Marianas (Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, located between Hawaii and the Philippines) had long been claimed by Spain, but the Jesuit mission led by San Vitores was the first European effort to colonize them. In this report, sent home by the first galleon to stop at Guam since his arrival, he describes the importance of the Marianas to the Spanish empire--not only for the thousands of souls he was saving, but also for the strategic role the Marianas could play in efforts to colonize the vast unexplored land of Australia. Included as an appendix is the 1610 report on "Australia Incognita" by Pedro Fernández de Quiros. Medina, México 1017; Palau 301133; Pardo de Tavera, Biblioteca Filipina 2582; Sabin 76901; see also Rogers, Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam, pages 41-50. One other copy known at auction since the 1917 Huth sale, in 1986.