En Mexico, en la Imprenta de la Bibliotheca Mexicana, 1758.
12mo [146 x 98mm] of 1 engraved frontispiece, (32) prel. pp. including 2 title ll. in 2 different languages, 170 pp., (1) l. Contemporary limp vellum, remains of ties, flat spine with the title handwritten in ink lengthwise. Contemporary binding.
Very rare Catholic catechism in the nahuatl language, the main idiom of the Indians of Mexico.
Medina, Mexico, 4500; Palau 269110; Pilling 2891; Sabin 71488.
This is the first edition of this “Mexican translation of a catechism that has been reproduced in almost every language.ˮ (Brunet).
“Mexican version of P. Ribalda’s famous catechism, which has been translated into almost every language. Of all catechisms translated or composed in Mexican, this is the most complete, the most accurate and the most elegant. This translation is by Father Ignacio de Paredes, distinguished scholar.ˮ (Leclerc, Bibliotheca Americana, 2334).
“41 fr. Maisonneuve (1867) ˮ (Brunet, supp., 485).
Only the dedication, the first title page and the introduction are in Castilian. The second title page and the entire book are in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs.
The Jesuit Ignacio de Paredes is the author of this translation from Spanish.
“Among the leaders in the linguistic conversion of Natives was Mexican Jesuit priest Ignacio de Paredes (1703-1762?), who at the time of publication of this book was a great authority on Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. He was born in San Juan de Llanos in the diocese of Puebla. Paredes became involved with a Creole group of clergyman who exercised great influence during the Bourbon era. Among his accomplishments was his service as president of the College of San Gregorio, established for the education of Native Americans only.”
Paredes is known for his important Prontuario manual mexicana (1759), a kind of textbook to explain missionaries how to teach Indians in their own language, the Nahuatl.
“This imprint of the Bibliotheca Mexicana is justly esteemed in the annals of Mexican printing; the first Mexican bibliographer Eguiara y Eguren was its director and the quality of the printing was maintained at a very high level.” (Medina, La Imprenta en Mexico).
« De este libro he consultado un ejemplar con la portada en espanol y otro con la portada en nahuatl, si bien las dos portadas tienen el mismo texto y fecha. El contenido de ambo ejemplares es tambien el mismo, el Catecismo del padre Ripalda, que incluye las principales oraciones y preceptos de la fe catolica. Antes del catecismo se dispone un santoral para todo el ano y al terminar aquel se insert auna ‘Doctrina Pequena’ toda en mexicano hecha por el padre Bartolomé Castano, tambien de la Compania de Jesus. En esta se recogne en forma de pregunta y respuestas los principlaes preceptos de la fe cristiana y lo concerniente al sacramento de la comunion. » (Tepustlahcuilolli, 2286)
Fine and precious copy, very pure, complete with the two titles and the often missing frontispiece representing st françois-xavier surrounded by Indians, preserved in its contemporary limp vellum binding.
