Lettre de Messieurs des Missions étrangères au Pape sur les idolatries et les superstitions chinoises

Duodecimo edition, published in the same year as the first edition, setting out a key episode in the Chinese Rites Controversy, a dispute still ongoing at the time of publication, pitting the Jesuits against the Franciscans and Dominicans.

Contemporary mottled brown sheep, spine with five raised bands and gilt compartments, gilt board edges, red mottled edges. Two early ownership inscriptions, the first on the upper pastedown and the second on the title page, both in brown ink.

Headcaps missing, losses to leather on the upper board and spine, the latter split 3.5 cm at the head, scuffing to the bands, boards, board edges and corners.

Discreet worming to the margins to p. 181, occasional ink marks in the text, marginal dampstaining and browning.

"In 1705, the Holy See sent Cardinal de Tournon as legate, vested with full powers to enforce the decrees issued in Rome following a very lengthy and thorough examination of the entire affair, which had been ongoing for nearly a century, and to eradicate the superstitious practices publicly observed among the disciples of the Society of Jesus. It is well known what befell him. He was seized and thrown into prison within the Jesuits' own house, where he died by poison in 1710. The good Fathers had stopped at nothing to obtain and to retain the privilege they then held of conducting alone the trade of the Far East."

Jean Wallon, Un collège de Jésuites auquel on a joint le Jésusouvrier, le Jésus-roi, le Jésus-industriel, le Jésus-homme de lettres, 1880

(our own translation)