Dastan-i-Masih [Persian]. Historia Christi Persice conscripta, simulque multis modis contaminata [...] Latine reddita & animadversionibus notata a Ludovico de Dieu.

2 parts in 1 vol., 4to: [24]-636-[4] pp. (sm. tear in Aaa1 touching some letters, title sl. soiled).

Contemp. overl. vellum, flat ink-titled spine, blue edges (flyleaves renewed, some min. rubbings).

A "Life of Christ" written in Persian by the Spanish Jesuit J. Javier (1549-1617), a grandnephew of Francisco Javier. He was sent to the Indies as a missionary and became head of a mission to the Mogul Court. He composed various books on Christianity to "inform" the Persian elite. The present edition, accompanied by a Latin trsl. by the Dutch oriental scholar Louis de Dieu (1590-1642) was put on the Roman Index on account of Javiers unorthodox use of sources and of de Dieu's protestant notes. Mark on title. Title in red & black within double ruled border and with Latin and Persian on facing pages.
Bound with, as it should be: Id. - Dastan-i-San Pidru [Persian]. Historia S. Petri Persice conscripta [...] Latine reddita & brevibus animadversionibus notata a Ludovico de Dieu. Ibid., id. [8]-144 pp. Similar Persian "Life of St Peter", printed in the same way as the “Life of Christ”. On pp. 122-144 is added a "Narratio brevissima a Societate in Regno magni Mogor gestarum" based on letters sent to Rome by H. Xaverius and his fellow Jesuit Emanuel Pinteiro (1556-1618). Title in red & black.
Ref. DBS VIII:1339-1340:8-9. - Willems I:490. - Berghman 74. - Rahir 486.
Prov. Ms. entries on front pastedown.