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VASCO FERNANDES DE LUCENA (d. ca 1499). [Oratio de obedientia ad Innocentium VIII. Rome: Stephan Plannck, 1488-90].
4° (206 x 146). 6 leaves. 32 lines. Type: 88G. Disbound; red quarter morocco slipcase.
One of two contemporary editions of the oration delivered by Vasco Fernandes before Pope Innocent VIII on behalf of King John II of Portugal on December 9, 1485.
“Contains the first references in print to Portugal's maritime discoveries” (Rogers, p. 6). The oration includes a summary of deeds in Africa, deeds against the Turks, and a pronouncement of Portugal’s iminent discoveries in the East: “Lastly, to all these things may be added the by no means uncertain hope of exploring the Barbarian Gulf, where kingdoms and nations of Asiatics, barely known among us and then only by the most meager of information, practice very devoutly the most holy faith of the Saviour. The farthest limit of Lusitanian maritime exploration is at present only a few days distant from them, if the most competent geographers are but telling the truth” (Vasco Fernandes, translated in Francis M. Rogers, The Obedience of a King of Portugal, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1958, pp. 47-48). Both this and the edition attributed to Andreas Greitag are very scarce. BMC IV, 93 (IA. 18366); BSB-Ink V-71; Goff V-100; GW 9785; HC 15760*; Oates 1457; Pr 3647.
4° (206 x 146). 6 leaves. 32 lines. Type: 88G. Disbound; red quarter morocco slipcase.
One of two contemporary editions of the oration delivered by Vasco Fernandes before Pope Innocent VIII on behalf of King John II of Portugal on December 9, 1485.
“Contains the first references in print to Portugal's maritime discoveries” (Rogers, p. 6). The oration includes a summary of deeds in Africa, deeds against the Turks, and a pronouncement of Portugal’s iminent discoveries in the East: “Lastly, to all these things may be added the by no means uncertain hope of exploring the Barbarian Gulf, where kingdoms and nations of Asiatics, barely known among us and then only by the most meager of information, practice very devoutly the most holy faith of the Saviour. The farthest limit of Lusitanian maritime exploration is at present only a few days distant from them, if the most competent geographers are but telling the truth” (Vasco Fernandes, translated in Francis M. Rogers, The Obedience of a King of Portugal, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1958, pp. 47-48). Both this and the edition attributed to Andreas Greitag are very scarce. BMC IV, 93 (IA. 18366); BSB-Ink V-71; Goff V-100; GW 9785; HC 15760*; Oates 1457; Pr 3647.