estranhas cousas que vio, & ouvio no Reyno da China, no de Tartaria, no de Pegú, no de Martavão, & em outros muitos Reynos, & Senhorios das partes Orientaes, de que nestas nossas do Occidente há muyto pouca, ou nenhuma noticia. E TAMBEM DA CONTA DE MVITOS casos particulares que acontecéram assim a elle como a outras muytas pessoas; & no fim della trata brevemente de algumas noticias, & da morte do Santo Padre Mestre Frãcisco Xavier, unica luz, & resplandor daquellas partes do Oriente, & nellas Reytor Vniversal da Companhia de Iesus. EM LISBOA. Na Officina de Antonio Craesbeeck de Mello. Anno de 1678.

In fólio de 29x20 cm Com (iv)-445 pags.

Encadernação da época em pergaminho flexível.

Exemplar com ténues manchas de humidade entretanto desvanecidas pelo tempo.

Segunda edição portuguesa (a primeira saiu em 1614) do mais importante livro de viagens, o mais conhecido e procurado, especialmente no estrangeiro, pois trata-se do relato do primeiro ocidental entrar no Japão.

 In folio (29x20 cm) with (iv) -445 pags.

Binding: contemporary flexible vellum.

Copy with slight water stains faded out by time.

Text printed in double column.

Second Portuguese edition (first printed in 1614) of a fascinating 16th century travel book considered the most important one ever written.

Inocêncio II, 285. Brunet IV, 670. "Primiere édition [1614] de cette curieuse relation; elle est rare. Celle de Lisb. Craesbeeck, 1678, est un peu moins chère."

 Mendez Pinto (1509-1583) was a Portuguese adventurer, a soldier, sailor, merchant, doctor, missionary and ambassador. He embarked to India in 1537 in a fleet commanded by the son of Vasco da Gama and traveled for 21 years, fought and traded in China, Tartary, Pegu and the neighboring countries, sailing in every sea. Mendes Pinto went to the mouth of the Mekong River and was in Japan before the arrival of St. Francis Xavier. He became later his friend and traveling companion. He traveled extensively in Asia between 1537 and 1557. In 1542 he landed in Japan and gained the favor of a feudal lord, to whom they claim to have given the first firearm to have entered Japan, the Portuguese “arquebus”. This is the source of Pinto"s claim to be the first westerner to enter Japan. The weapon was rapidly reproduced and had a major impact on the ongoing Japanese civil wars. He is credited for the opening up of Indo-China trade. He joined the Society of Jesus and St. Francis gave him the money with which to build the first Jesuit establishment in Japan. Mendez accompanied the Jesuits as ambassador from the Portuguese Viceroy of India to the King of Bungo. While a number of the details of his work are obviously taken from other accounts, such as the visits to Ethiopia and Tibet, the total picture given of Asia in the first half of the 16th century has undoubted authenticity. This is one of the greatest books by a European traveler in the East and is a classic of Portuguese literature.