THE PATRON SAINT OF SLAVES (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--RELIGION.) FLEURIAU, P. BERTRAND-GABRIEL. La Vie de Venerable Pere Pierre Claver. [2], xxiv, [1]-499, [v] pages. 8vo, modern full calf boards with single gilt rule; spine with five raised bands; gilt extra in six panels, title in one; bound in the style of the period; early institutional stamps on title-page. Paris: Bordelet, 1751
rare first edition of the first full biography of jesuit father pierre (pedro) claver, the 'patron saint of slaves.' Pedro Claver y Corberó (1581 – 1654) was a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary born in Verdú (Catalonia) who, due to his life of charitable work, became the patron saint of African slaves in Colombia. Claver was encouraged by his mentor at college to go to the missions in America. In 1610 he landed in Cartagena, Colombia, one of two ports where slaves from Africa arrived to be sold in South America. Between the years 1616 and 1650, Peter Claver worked daily to minister to the needs of the 10,000 slaves who arrived each year. During the 40 years of his ministry in Colombia it is estimated he personally baptized around 300,000 people. He is considered an heroic epitome of what missionary work should be about.
