RHODES, Alexandre de Histoire du royaume de Tunquin, et des grands progrès que la prédication de l'Évangile y a faits en la conversion des infidèles. From the year 1627. to the year 1646. Composed in Latin [...] and translated into French by the R. P. Henry Albi [...]. Lyon J.-B. Devenet 1651 4to: [16]-326 pp.; 1 pl. (spotting, sl. marg. damp stains, lower margin of title cut short, brown marg. stain). Contemp. marbled sheep, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, red edges (part. rubbed, lower joint part. split, damp stains on lower board, head missing). Very rare first French translation (1st Latin 1650) by the Jesuit H. Albi (1590-1658). The first book is a history of the Tonkin, which is composed according to de Rhodes of the north part of Annam and Cohinchina in the south; the 2nd book deals with the evangelisation of the Kingdom. Illustrated with a fold. map. Destined for Japan, the Jesuit missionary and linguist A. de Rhodes (1591-1660) arrived at Macau in 1623, but was then sent to Vietnam. He was active there until he got banished in 1645 and sentenced to death. His condamnation reduced to exile, he returned to Rome. He was later sent to Persia where he died in 1660. Rhodes was one of the first Europeans to travel through Cochinchina and Tonkin. Copper-engr. vignette on title. Ref. DBS VI:1719:4. - Cp. Cordier, Sinica, 2080 (1652 Latin ed.). Prov. stamps on title.