Description
14 complete volumes, 1788-1792 with all 10 maps present including the Murillo Velarde re-issued map.
The 14-volumes were published between 1788 and 1792 by the Recollect friar, Father Juan de la Concepción, it remains the single source of veritable troves of historical information from Spanish conquest till late 18th century. Already in its time it was considered the most ambitious and salient History of the Philippines, overflowing with clerical reports and other relaciones of the friars. Such was the span of its work that the author died before their printing. Volumes VI to XIV were printed in El Conv. de Ntra. Sra. D. Loreto del Pueblo de Sampaloc: por el Hermano Balthazar Mariano, Donado Franciscano. (see Retana, no. 401). Each volume features a title page embellished with border designs. Chapters end with rosettes or decorative florettes, while a table of contents, an index, and a list of typographical errors, if necessary, closes each volume.
Volume I (1788): [56], 434, [62] pp, [2] 2 folded maps: (Celebes/Gilolo [i.e., Eastern Sulawesi/Halmahera] and the folded map of the Philippines by Pedro Murillo de Velarde); divided into 2 parts, with the first containing 17 chapters while the second consists of 5 chapters. Dedicated to Msgr. Ruiz de San Agustín, the book contains a prologue that states the rationale for the series. This volume begins with a narrative concerning the rights of the Spanish monarchs to the Islands. It continues with the state of the islands upon Spanish arrival and the natives’ fear of the tigbalang. It describes several expeditions from Magellan to Legazpi. The volume closes with the destruction caused by the invasion of the corsair Limahong and the subsequent retreat to Pangasinan.
Volume II (1788): [4], 502, [58] pp, [1] 3 folded maps (Japan); (Atolls of San Agustin and Valientes). Chapters six to twenty-five cover the arrival in Manila of the second Governor–General Francisco de Sande who directs a petition clamouring for a second spiritual crusade and an address to the Governor by the Dominicans.
Volume III (1788): [4], 439, [57] pp, [1] folded map (Formosa). The first chapter deals with the arrival of D. Antonio de Morga from Acapulco. This volume reports on the geography of Mindanao, the arrival in Manila of the sixth Governor General Francisco de Tello, troubles with the Japanese emperor with the unexpected landing of a galleon in Japan, expedition to Cambodia, and the death of the Japanese emperor.
Volume IV (1788): [4], 487, [4] [65] pp. Divided into 17 chapters, Volume IV spans the installation of the seventh Governor Pedro de Acuña until D. Alonso Fajardo’s petition to avoid conflict with the Dutch, the canonical installation of Juan de Renteria as Bishop of Nueva Segovia in 1621 as well as a Summa of his rule.
Volume V (1788): [4], 478, [2] [70] pp. Consists of 19 chapters that cover the period from the establishment of the Convent of Santa Clara in Manila until the martyrdom in Japan of Fr. Thomas Zumárraga, OP, in 1622.
Volume VI (1788): [4], 439, [73] pp, 1 map of China/Indochina/Southeast Asia [India Orientalis]. 16 chapters cover the Holy Father’s approval of the public cult to commemorate the martyrs of Japan as well as news of continuing religious persecutions in Japan. The book also documents the warfare waged against the Muslims.
Volume VII (1789): [4], 364, [52] pp, 2 folded maps (Guam and a map of Saipan and Tinian). 13 chapters that span the battle of La Naval in 1659, contemporary uprisings, and the Philippine exile and adventures of an intriguing personality, Don Fernando Valenzuela.
Volume VIII (1790): [but written as “VI”]: [4], 391, [57] pp. Spans 15 chapters that cover the inauguration in 1678 of the term of the sixteenth Governor-General, D. Juan de Vargas y Hurtado, and terminated with the demise in 1715 of the Bishop of Nueva Segovia, Diego de Gorospe in Mangaldan.
Volume IX (1790): [4], 424, [64] pp, [1] 1 folded map (West Carolinas). 15 chapters which begin with a relation of events in China and the Apostolic Visitation of Papal Legate, Msgr. Carlo Tomasso Maillar de Tournon in 1704. [Tournon had been summoned by the Pope to quash the continuance of Chinese rites.] The last chapter deals with the profanation of Augusto Sanchez.
Volume X (1790): [4], 410, [50] pp.; 13 chapters span the accession in 1721 of the Toribio José Cosio y Campo, Marquis de Torre Campo, as the twenty-second Governor, campaigns against the armed Muslims of Jolo, Calamianes, and accounts of negotiations attempts with the governor of Batavia.
Volume XI (1791): [4], 420, [48] [1] pp.; 17 chapters report on the religious persecutions in China and Tonkin starting in 1718, the accession of Bishop of Nueva Segovia Juan de Arechedera as Acting Governor-General from 1745 to 1750 [famous for having baptized Alimuddin I, the only Catholic Sultan of Sulu], and a commentary on the letter of Cardinal Tournon to the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary.
Volume XII (1792): [4], 419, [39] [1] pp.; 17 chapters cover the turbulent times of Bishop Governor Arrechedera, the negative reports on the Spanish armada that the Augustinian Recollects sent to the King of Spain, caused by the depredation by the Muslims on the population.
Volume XIII (1792): [4], 464, [34] [1] pp. Deals with the relations of Governor Arandia starting in 1754 with the Sultan of Sulu, who was baptized as Ferdinand I of Sulu, the wealth of Jolo, with the whole volume covering events related to the war in Jolo, Zamboanga, and Manila, and supplemented with side events.
Volume XIV (1792): [4], 381, [33] pp. Reports on the communications between Governor Arandia and Sultan Alimudin and Dagohoy’s uprising in Bohol as well as Jesuit reports from Bohol and Mindanao. An economic campaign against the Chinese is launched. Governor Arandia travels to Acapulco to report on its conditions to the king. The last chapter reports on the violent clashes with the Igorots of the Mountain Province of Luzon.
Price upon request
Condition
contemporary limp vellum (most with remnant ties), majority with blue ink stain, spines with manuscript titles in ink; titles within ornamental borders, tail pieces; few volumes with occasional minor dampstaining, few age-toned pages; but generally very clean throughout and crisp, early impression. All front covers & title pages with library stamp.
