343

Vida de San Felipe de Jesus, protomartir del Japon, y patron de su patria Mexico.

Mexico, 1801
31 plates, including engraved title page. 4to, modern tree calf; minimal wear; uncut.

  • Notes: First edition. A lavishly illustrated life of San Felipe de Jesús (1572-1597), who was martyred in Japan and became the first Mexican-born saint, as well as the patron saint of Mexico City. Consists entirely of engraved scenes from Felipe's life, one of the earliest entirely illustrated books issued in Mexico. Some or most of the plates are by the important Mexican illustrator José María Montes de Oca. Palau 363045; Sabin 76029.

    The 26th plate is an anomaly. It is credited to Agüera rather than Montes de Oca; it is printed in bistre brown ink rather than the black of the other engravings. Most copies of this book appear with only 29 or 30 plates. For example, the Universidad Iberoamericana example has 29 plates and is lacking this Agüera plate. We find one complete example of the Vida on line, at the Brooklyn Museum. Their example also has the Agüero plate in bistre brown. 

    Provenance: collection of Dr. Ward Alan Minge (1924-2021), renowned New Mexico historian and founder of Casa San Ysidro. 
  • Condition:
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    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

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November 20, 2025 10:30 AM EST
New York, NY, US

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