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Thick octavo, 2 ff, pp xxiv, 886, xxvii (index). Fray Antonio Tello wrote his chronicles sometime around 1650, but the "cuadernos" languished in manuscript for 250 years in the "archivo de la provincia del Santo Evangelio de Mexico", according to Beristain de Souza., but repeated efforts to find these were in vain due to the sequestering of the convents in Mexico. The story, taken from the intorduction, is that Dr. Nicolas Leon, the eminent 19th century Mexican bibliophile, found the text in a spice shop in Celaya, where it had been bought for wrapping paper. There were 6 books, the first of which has been lost. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th have been published, singly, at different times, as well as part of the 5th. This, book 2, is complete in itself, and is an important source for the very early history of this area of northwest Mexico and the Southwest. He had access to sources unique to his work, esp. personal acquaintance with the original conquistadors and friars whose adventures he relates. Notices of the Coronado expedition abound, as well as much information on Fray Marcos and Cabeza de Vaca. Tello was admittedly the source for Frs. Beaumont and Mota Padilla's later, but still early histories of the region. Title page has the library stamp, partially obliterated, of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, with a shelf label laid in. Contemporary binding of calf over black marbled boards, gilt title and panels, raised bands: previous owner's signature in ink on title page, which looks to be from the 1890's, and two discreet library stamps (?) on top and bottom edges of text; a little wear along the edges of binding as well. Very good copy. Seller Inventory # 7055
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