La vie de Saint François Xavier de la Compagnie de Jésus apostre des Indes et du Japon.

4to: [16]-634-[10] pp.; 1 pl. (sl. foxing, quires +/- browned).

Contemp. mottled calf, gilt coat of arms on boards, gilt-orn spine with raised bands, red spr. edges (joints, spine -with orig. leather pres.- and corners repaired, sl. rubbing, stains on front cover).

First edition of a leading early biography by the prolific French Jesuit D. Bouhours (1628-1702) of St Francis Xavier (1506-1562), co-foundator of the Society of Jesus, missionary active in South-East Asia (esp. Japan). Illustrated with a double-page engr. map of Asia titled "Carte pour la vie de St François Xavier", one arm. headpiece, 5 tailpieces, some orn. intials and a woodcut title-vignette.
Ref. Cordier, Japoncia, 145-146. - DBS I:1904-1905:20. - Godsmith (BL) B-1580.
Prov. Jean-Joseph Languet de Gergy (1677-1753), first bishop of Soissons, later archbishop of Sens and member of the Académie française (supralibros).