Japan.- Jesuits.- Lettere del Giappone dell'anno MDLXXVII. Scritte dalli reverendi Padri della Compagnia di Giesù, first edition, collation: A-D⁸ E⁴, title with small woodcut Jesuit device, small floriated woodcut initials, title with c.19th century Jesuit library stamp and small ink reference to verso, some neat repairs to inner-margin, some corners little rounded, some light staining, lightly browned, modern limp vellum, [Cordier, Japonica p. 71; EDIT 16 CNCE 38659], 8vo (160 x 103mm.), Rome, Francesco Zanetti, 1579.

⁂ Rare first edition of these four important letters from the early period of the Jesuit Mission in Japan, the first by Luis Frois, the second by Father Organtino, the third by Giovanni Francesco Stephanoni, and the last by Francisco Cabral. We cannot trace a copy of this edition at auction in nearly 100 years.