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ALETHINI PHILARETAE EPISTOLARUM DE VEN. JOHANNIS PALAFOXII ANGELOPOLITANI PRIMUM TUM OXOMENSIS EPISCOPI ORTHODOXIA.
([Rome]: s.n., 1772-73). 197 x 133 mm. (7 3/4 x 5 1/4"). Three volumes.
HANDSOME CONTEMPORARY MOTTLED CALF, RICHLY GILT, covers with central coat of arms of a cardinal, surrounded by elaborate groupings of acanthus and diapered patterns with small stars in each compartment, gilt-rolled border, slightly raised bands, each compartment with gilt floral tools or lettering, one red morocco label with gilt lettering, Dutch gilt endpapers, all edges gilt. Very small, very skillful repairs to two spine ends and four joints. Versos of front free endpapers with ink signature of "Monj.(?) Goverete"(?), and numbered 239, 240, and 241 in the three volumes (perhaps ecclesiastical marks of ownership). See: Antonius Papillon O.P., "Opera Omnia Th. M. Mamachi O.P.," in Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum (ISSN 0391-7320), 5, (1935), pp. 241-60. Edges a little rubbed, a couple of dings and other minor imperfections to bindings, contents with scattered light foxing and other insignificant imperfections, but in excellent condition overall. AN EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE COPY--the contents quite clean, the margins very ample, and the bindings in a fine state, with glimmering gilt.
This spirited defense of the beatification of Bishop Juan Palafox y Mendoza against attacks by the Jesuit order was handsomely bound for an 18th century Prince of the Church. While we have not been able to identify the binder or the patron for whom our set was bound, the ink-inscribed numbers on the front endpapers suggest the books were part of a substantial library. Appointed Bishop of Puebla, the oldest Catholic diocese in Mexico, in 1640, Palafox (1600-59) arrived in the New World in a reforming spirit. Being so far away from Rome, the missionaries of religious orders had begun to ignore church hierarchy and episcopal jurisdiction. In seeking to impose both his authority as bishop and the required tithes to the Church from the orders, Palafox ran afoul of the rich and powerful Society of Jesus. One of the largest landowners in New Spain, the Jesuits had enormous income from trade in cattle and sheep as well as from ownership of six sugar refineries, and they defended it zealously. Palafox eventually lost the power struggle and returned to Spain. Not content with defeating him in his lifetime, the Jesuits vigorously objected when King Charles II of Spain petitioned for Palafox to be beatified in 1694. The controversy continued through four papacies. The Jesuits wrote diatribes against Palafox, and in 1771, Dominican theologian Tomasso Mamachi (1713-92) was asked to write a defense. As he held several important offices at the Vatican, Mamachi wrote under the alias Alethinus Philareta. He severely criticized the Jesuits who had questioned Palafox's sanity and besmirched his integrity. Despite his efforts, and a positive recommendation from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1777, Pope Pius suspended a final decision on beatification. More than 200 years later, the cause was revived under Pope John Paul II. Palafox was finally beatified in 2011, under Pope Benedict XVI. Given the appearance of the zucchetto at the center of each cover in this set, the elaborately gilt-decorated bindings were obviously prepared for a Cardinal, and surely the binding work would have been done in a Roman workshop. But curiously--and appropriately--the style of binding has at least the flavor of that seen on Mexican books of the 18th century. (ST21004c)
Price: $7,500.00