[VIETNAM]. Relazione de’felici successi della Santa Fede predicata da padri della Compagnia di Giesv nel regno di Tvnchino,

all santita di N.S. PP. Innocenzio Decimo. Di Alessandro de Rhodes Avignonese della medesima Compagnia, e Missionário Apostolico della Sacra Congregatione de Propaganda Fide. In Roma : Per Giuseppe Luna. L’anno del Giubileo, 1650. Small quarto, contemporary vellum, manuscript title to spine, folding frontispiece engraving, pp [16], folding engraved map, 326, [2 errata]; woodcut device on title page, woodcut head-piece and initial letter at start of first and second parts; a very good, fully contemporary copy on wide-margined paper.

The first edition of the first Western description of Vietnam. It contains the earliest independent detailed map of the northern part of Vietnam, which includes the southern coast of China as far east as Macao.

The French Jesuit Alexandre de Rhodes served as a missionary in Tonking, Cochinchina and Annam from 1624 to 1630. The Jesuit mission was highly successful and thousands converted to Christianity, but because the missionaries preached against polygamy Rhodes was expelled by the eunuch officials in 1630. He stayed for 10 years in Macao teaching and subsequently returned to Vietnam before his ultimate banishment in 1645. Rhodes travelled back to Europe via India, Persia and Turkey. He later obtained permission to establish a new mission in Persia, and died at Isfahan in 1660.

Divided into two parts, Rhodes’ work presents a first-hand account of missionary activity in Tonking, and of the work of the missions in the greater region up until 1646. It also provides detailed notes on the manners and customs of the native inhabitants, politics and government, natural resources and commerce.

Cordier, Indosinica, 1619; De Backer & Sommervogel VI, 1718-1721; Walravens, China Illustrata, 158; Brunet IV, 1269; Howgego R33-34; Streit V, 1646; BMC, Printed Maps I, 611