Scarce first edition, in the original Latin, of Gaspar Berse's biography, a famous Dutch Jesuit known for his missionary work in Ormuz (island in the Persian Gulf) and Goa, India. Berse (1515-1553, also known by several spelling variations of his name) was born in Goes on the island of Walcheren in Zeeland, the Netherlands. After his studies in Louvain, he went to Coimbra in 1546 where he entered the Jesuit order. In 1548, he was sent to the island of Ormuz and in 1551 to Goa. Once there, the famous co-founder of the Society of Jesus and leader of the first Christian mission to Japan Francis Xavier (1506-1552) appointed Berse as director of St. Paul's College in Goa and entrusted him with running the provincial office of the Indian Mission. Gaspar Berse became known as the "Dutch Xavier". He died in Goa on 6 October 1553.
Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628) was a Jesuit and a missionary in China. Born in Douai (then part of the Spanish Netherlands), he became a Jesuit in 1594. He arrived at Nanjing in 1611, and began his missionary work there. He was one of the first missionaries to reach and work in the city of Hangzhou, China, where he remained until his death.
With vague remnants of previous owner's inscriptions on the title page, occasional expert marginal repairs, some very slight occasional foxing and/or browning. Otherwise in very good condition. De Backer & Sommervogel vol. VIII, col. 238, no. 2; STCV 6684496 (3 copies); USTC 1004318 (20 copies).