[West Indies]. - Lot 247

[West Indies]. ACOSTA, José de. REGNAULD, Robert. Histoire naturelle et morale des Indes, tant Orientales, qu'Occidentales; où il est traité des choses remarquables du ciel, des éléments, metaux, plantes, & animaux qui sont propres de ce pays... Paris, Adrian Tiffaine, 1616. In-8 in large format in-12. (16)-375 ff., (16) ff of tables. Contemporary soft ivory vellum, handwritten title on spine (binding slightly soiled, inner jaws loose, ff. 371 incorrectly numbered 271). Very rare according to Chadenat. One of the most interesting accounts of South America, written by the missionary José de Acosta, Jesuit evangelizer of Peru. Considered a detailed account of the state of South America at the time, and constitutes the first history of the Indians of Peru and Mexico. Jesuit missionary and naturalist Jose de Acosta (1539- 1600), second provincial of Peru, born in Medina del Campo around 1539, first taught theology in Ocana, then was sent to the West Indies to convert the Indians. In this work, he gives a complete description of the customs, laws and ceremonies of the Incas and Aztecs, and provides a wealth of information on the natural and philosophical history of the New World. First published in Latin in Salamanca in 1589 under the title De Natura Novi Orbis Libri duo. It was translated into Spanish in 1591, and into French in 1598. The original French edition was printed in Paris by Marc Orry. Our copy is the fourth and last French edition, revised and corrected. Handwritten ownership marks on title. Ex libris MS ancien bibliotheca Sommervogel, I, 36. Chadenat, 218.