The first edition of an abridged French catechism with a Carib translation printed in a parallel column, written to prepare priests for missions to the Caribbean. The author, father Raymond Breton (Baune 1609-Caen 1679), was a French Dominican missionary and a noted linguist. He sailed for the West Indies in 1635 and devoted nearly 20 years to missionary activities. After his return to France in 1654, he was appointed sub-prior of the monastery of Preaching Friars at Blainville. Here Breton wrote several linguistic works that are now among the rarest records of the 17th-century Carib language.
With the bookplate of Joannes B. Stetson on front paste-down. A very good copy. Dampierre, Antilles françaises, pp. 49-50, 83-5; Sabin 7742; for the author: NBG VII, cols. 344-345.