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Castrioto Lusitano . Varios successos entre Portuguezas, e belgas. Lisbon, Antonio Craesbeeck de Mello, 1679. Folio. Engraved title with medallion portrait of João Fernandes Vieira in central panel surrounded by architectural border with allegorical figures and his arms + [18] + 701 + [46]p. Decorative woodcut initials and ornaments. Contemporary blind-tooled calf, spine ornamented in gilt. First edition of this early account of the Portuguese war with the Dutch in Brazil (1623-54) largely based on a contemporary manuscript by Diogo Lopes Santiago (which remained unpublished until the late 19th century), but also drawing on other sources such as Valeroso Lucideno by Manoel Calado, an eyewitness, and Francisco Manoel de Mello s Epanaforas. The author, a Benedictine abbot, praises the military exploits of João Fernandes Vieira who raised the revolt against the Dutch invaders in 1645, and successfully fought a guerilla war against them which ended with the capture of their last stronghold Pernambuco in 1654. Vieira, a native of Madeira and a natural leader of men, is flatteringly described as the Lusitanian Castriota after George Castriota, known as Scanderbeg, the legendary 15th century Albanian hero. This work was clearly intended to be continued, as the title-page refers to Parte I , but no more was published. A new edition with a much altered text appeared in Paris in 1844. The author was appointed first historian of Portugal in 1681. A fine copy with wide margins; small hole in engraved title resulting from ink corrosion from an early ownership signature on verso. Borba de Moraes I,427; Innocencio VII, p48 & XVIII, p155; Palha 4259; Rodrigues, Domínio holandês no Brasil, 215; Sabin 36088; Schäfer, Portuguese exploration to the West and the formation of Brazil, 49. Seller Inventory # 5741
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