Peregrinaçaõ de Fernão Mendez Pinto que consta de muitas e muy estranhas cousas que vio e ouvio no Reyno da China, no da Tartaria, no de Pegù, no de Martauão, e em outros muitos Reynos, e Senhorios das partes Orientaes

x+428 pages. Quarto (11 1/2" x 8") bound in original leather binding with raised bands and gilt label to spine. Edited by Antonio Tenreiro. In double column pages issued without map. First published in 1614.

Fernão Mendes Pinto was a Portuguese explorer and writer. His exploits are known through the posthumous publication of his memoir Pilgrimage Peregrinação in 1614, an autobiographical work whose truthfulness is nearly impossible to assess. The tale of his adventures was written after the fact, according to Pinto's memories of the events, and for that reason it may be open to doubt as a completely accurate historical source. However, it well documents the impact of the Asian civilizations on the Europeans and constitutes a perfectly realistic analysis of Portuguese action in the Orient, far more realistic than the one made by Luís de Camões in The Lusiads. The most controversial of his claims is that of having been the first European to land in Japan and the introduction of the arquebus. Despite the impossibility of proving these specific assertions, there is little doubt that Pinto was among the first Europeans in Japan, and therefore his account may be considered more reliable than other books describing this period that were written long afterwards. Another controversial claim, that he fought in Java against the Muslims, has been analyzed by various historians. The Dutch historian P. A. Tiele, who wrote in 1880, did not believe Pinto was present during the campaign, but rather that he wrote his information from secondhand sources. Even so, Tiele admits Pinto's account cannot be disregarded because of the lack of alternative information about Javanese history during the time period; despite the doubts over Pinto's accuracy, his viewpoint may represent the only authoritative source in existence. Maurice Collis, a modern expert on Asian affairs who lived in the area for twenty years, holds the opinion that Fernão's accounts, while not entirely true, remain essentially true with respect to the basic events. Because of this Collis considers Pinto's work the most complete European account of 16th century Asian history.

Condition:

Some worming to the leather and internal gutters, leather scuffed and cracked at back heal corners, rubbing to raised spine areas, spine head chipped away. Red underling in pencil through out else a good copy.