Small 8vo (mm 160x110); pp. 159; title with jesuitic woodcut device, woodcut initials and head pieces throughout. With some marginal old damp staining and toning, but genuine and well preserved. First rare edition, printed in Milan, Rome, Brescia and Naples in the same year. Very scarce and extremely early “news from the east”. A very important witness of european presence in Japan. Contained here are some letters from the mission of the Jesuits in Japan, written from fathers Carrion, de Cespedes, Mexia, Froes and Cabral which resume about the difficulty of the way of life, the wars, japanese costumes. They are among the earliest western accounts from the time of japanese unification. "In 1580 a total of 59 Jesuits (28 Fathers and 31 Brothers) were active in Japan. The times were characterised by a great deal of political uncertainty. Fr. Cespedes talks about the possibility of converting Oda Nobunaga, one of the main leaders in the power-struggle that had enveloped the whole country. Fr. Fróis accompanied the Italian Visitor Valignano on his first travels from Funai to Sakai. They were collecting information on the various provinces and discussed the coming of the other Orders, for example, Franciscans and Dominicans to Japan, as well as the question of appointing a bishop for the whole of the country" (Laures).‎ BM STC It., p. 349. Streit, v. IV, p. 437. Cordier, 74. Mnca ad Adams, Nipponalia e a Sommervogel.