Detailed travel account

Cubero Sebastian, Pedro. Peregrinacion que ha hecho de la mayor parte del mundo [...].

Zaragoza, Pasqual Bueno, 1688.

4to. (16), 288 pp. With woodcut illustration. Later full vellum with handwritten spine-title.

 3,500.00

Third edition of an interesting and detailed account of the first overland journey from Spain to the East Indies (1671-80) made by the Spanish missionary Sebastian Pedro Cubero. Interestingly, Cubero covered most of his route by land, as would later Careri, thus constantly being able to observe the customs, religions, ceremonies and costumes of the peoples he visited, describing them in considerable detail. After spending time in Italy, where he was appointed as a missionary to Asia and the East Indies, Cubero travelled by way of Istanbul and Moscow to Persia, visiting Isfahan ("Hispaham") and Bandar Abbas, after which he finally arrived in India. After crossing to Malacca he was imprisoned by the Dutch and later banished from the city. He then proceeded to the Philippines and ultimately, by way of Mexico, back to Europe. "After a stint as confessor in the Imperial army in Hungary, Cubero became one of the notable travellers of the 17th century. What set him apart was the variety of his traveller's hats. Most obviously a missionary [...], he also became [...] a representative figure of the whole exploratory enterprise. By circumnavigating the globe in his travels, he was recognized in his own time to be another Magellan, Drake, or Cavendish" (Noonan).

Limp paper evenly browned throughout; first 30 pp. somewhat wormed; worm holes and some marginal flaws repaired with Japanese paper, entire title-page rebacked thus. Contemporary ownership of the San Juan convent library in Barcelona to title-page. Faded stamp of ownership to title-page and lower flyleaf. The lower flyleaf bears the handwritten ownership of Emanuel Pelegrí Pages and Joan Peregrí, students at San Andrés de la Barca.

References

Palau 65758. Howgego C225. Sabin 17819. Streit-Dindinger V, 598. Alden 688/64. For the author cf. F.T. Noonan, The road to Jerusalem: pilgrimage and travel in the age of discovery (2007), p. 104.