Historia de la Conquista de la China por el Tartaro

 Juan de Palafox y Mendoza

Madrid : Bernardo de Villa-Diego, 1670

[The History of the Manchu conquest of Ming China, 1643-1644] Folio, 29 x 20 cm.. Bound in old, (but later) acid sheep.  Gilt stamping to spine.  Solid binding, with minor rubbing, scuffs. Marbled end sheets. Collated: Title-leaf, 409-528, [4] pp.; i.e. title-leaf, Mm-Xx6, 2 leaves (Table).  An extract from the 17th century edition of Palafox Y Mendoza's collected works.  Spotting, a few leaves have minor marginal dampstaining, lacking corner of last leaf.  Masonic book plate of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (A.A. S.R.) on front paste-down. 

Spanish edition of "The history of the conquest of China by the Tartars."   Palafox y Mandoza served as Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) and Bishop of Puebla.  He received reports from Macao and Manila, via the Philippines, of the events in China twice a year.  This book is the result of his compiled letters.  The caption title at head of p. 409 reads: "Historia de las Guerras Civiles de la China."  "An account of the fall of the Ming and rise of the Manchu dynasty, with descriptions of Manchu customs and hope expressed for progress by Christian missions." - Bell.  Cordier Sinica I, 627; Lust 447. (All referencing the French, Bertier imprint of the same year.)  Palafox's account was the second European history of the conflict, after only Martini's 1654, De Bello Tartarico.