PADRE ÁLVARO SEMEDO, S. J. - 1585/86-1658 Imperio de la China, y cultura evangelica en el, Por los Religiosos de la Compañia de Jesus. / Sacado de las noticias del Padre Alvaro Semmedo de la propria Compañia. Por Manuel de Faria y Sousa.- Lisboa Occidental: En la Officina Herreriana, 1731.- [18], 252 p.; 29 cm.- E. Second Portuguese edition, published by coach Miguel Lopes Ferreira. Father Semedo (1585/86-1658), Jesuit missionary and scientist, natural of Nisa, spent more than 20 years in China having undertaken a thorough study on the history and local ethnography. Semedo has always demonstrated the greatest admiration for the Chinese institutions, it conveys us a clear and concise report of the Chinese religious system. The work, written in Portuguese, but first published in Castilian by Manuel de Faria e Sousa (Madrid, 1642), consists of three parts: a description of the Kingdom of China, an explanation of its language and characters and a set of ethnological and evangelical news. The title page, printed in black and red, includes a woodcut engraving with the coat of arms of Portugal, enclosed by a filactera with the legend: In omnem Terram exivit sonus eorum (a sua voz ressoa por toda a Terra). Copy with moisture stains (fungi?) in the outer margins of the first five and three last leaves, stronger on the title page, with Quinta das Lágrima stamp - Coimbra (repeted on page 17). Original guard leaves with imperfections. A very clean copy with fine margins. Entire calf binding of the time with moisture signs but recoverable. Palau, 307304. Inocêncio, I, p. 50 (with an extensive description). Samodães, 1165. Ameal, 890. Palha, 4195.