#O40
1752
Third Edition. Folio. 6, 208 leaves pp. Period brown gilt tooled speckled full sheep with black gilt label. Texted browned, rear cover with wear and some chipping of leather, but overall a good copy.
This is the third edition of the first decade of Barros, after the editions of 1552 and 1628. Barros was an "eminent Portuguese historian whose Decadas are one of the major sources for the history of Portuguese navigation.., The first draft of the Decadas da Asia was completed in 1539, but due to the necessity for constant revision and expansion was not put to press until 1552. The first decade covers the background from Prince Henry to 1505.., part of the first decade was incorporated into Ramusio's Navigationi"(Howgego B34). Barros' "Decades contain the early history of the Portuguese in India and Asia and reveal careful study of Eastern historians and geographers, as well as of the records of his own country. They are distinguished by clearness of exposition and orderly arrangement. They are also lively accounts, for example describing the king of Viantana's killing of the Portuguese ambassadors to Malacca with boiling water and then throwing their bodies to the dogs" (Wikipedia).
