Descriptio provinciae Moxitarum in regno Peruano, quam e scriptis posthumis Franc. Xav. Eder, e Soc. Jesu annis xv. sacri apud eosdem Curionis digessit, expolivit, et adnotatiunculis illustravit Abb. et Consil. Reg. Mako

Éder, Xavér Franz (Eder, Francisco Javier)

Published by Typis Universitatis, Buda, 1791

About this Item

First edition. In compemporary hard paper. (8°); XVIII, 385 p., 8 folding plates. An early and important description of Peru and Bolivia by Xavér Ferenc Éder (1727-1772) the Hungarian Jesuit missionary. After his studies at Nagyszombat Jesuit University he went to South America as a missionary where he spent fifteen years. He traveled around Mamoré River and settled down at the middle part of it that he called "Moxitany" (Peru and Bolivia) where he established a Jesuit Reduction for mostly Mojo and Chiriguano Indians. Besides his work as a missionary he studied, documented and collected the traditions, beliefs, customs and the religion of the Indians. Even before the suppression of the Jesuits by Pope Clement XIII in 1773 the missionaries were forced to give up their missions in 1767, therefore Éder went back to Hungary where he started to compile his manuscripts to edit and publish a book on his experiences in "Moxitany". Before he finished his work he died in 1772 and twenty years later Pál Makó had published a shortened version with his comments in 1791. The engraved plates were made after Éder's drawings and the book was published in only 300 copies. However, some copies appeared in South America and after a hundred years the work was published in Spanish (Descripción de la provincia de los mojos en el reino del Perú sacada de los escritos póstumos del P. Francisco Javier Eder arreglada e ilustrada con notas por el abate y consejero real, Mako traducida del latin por Fray Nicolás Armentia. La Paz, 1888. Imp. de "El Siglo Industrial"). Éder's manuscripts are in the Pray Collection at the University Library in Budapest. [Sabin 21830 and 44085 (under the name of the editor); Palau 78352.]. Seller Inventory # 92

Bibliographic Details

Title: Descriptio provinciae Moxitarum in regno ...

Publisher: Typis Universitatis, Buda

Publication Date: 1791

Binding: In compemporary hard paper

Condition: In fine condition.

Edition: First edition.