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(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
[10,000/15,000]
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.