Small folio (292 x 197 mm). Title-page printed in red and black with woodcut arms all within typographical border, engraved arms at head of dedication leaf. (Light marginal browning to a few leaves including title, some dampstaining to occasional leaves, small worm holes in margin to several leaves at end, a few repaired, last leaf affixed to blank.) Modern calf antique, renewed endpapers. Provenance: contemporary signature on title-page and with notation in margin.

FIRST EDITION. Fernandez de Navarrete was the Superior of the Dominican Mission based in Fukien. At the outbreak of the persecution of Christians in 1665 he withdrew to Canton and lived with a number of Jesuits and other Dominicans where the infamous Chinese Rites Controversy was much discussed. Eventually, he managed to escape from Canton and made his way to Europe, where he prepared and published the Tratadoshistoricos, which severely criticised his Jesuit co-workers for permitting superstitious practices and wilfully softening those essential tenets of Christianity which might prove obstacles to acceptance by the Chinese mandarin. The work was largely instrumental in re-opening the second phase of the Rites Controversy. RARE: "Es rarisimo, porque parece que el Santo Oficio se opuso a su circulation" (Palau). Cordier Sinica 31; Lust 21; Medina BHA 1611; Palau 89431; Sabin 52095.