Coleccion de instrucciones pastorales, que en diferentes ocasiones, y con varios motivos publico para edificacion de los fieles ….

Madrid, En la Imprenta Real, 1786.. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 4°, uniform contemporary speckled calf (some wear and stains), spines richly gilt with raised bands in six compartments, red leather lettering pieces with short titles gilt lettered in second compartments, volumes numbered in third compartments, text block edges rouged, marbled endleaves. Light marginal staining on title-page of volume I. In very good to fine condition. Engraved portrait, 367 pp.; (1 l., 1 l. errata), pp. [369]-830. *** FIRST EDITION in this form; all the works had previously appeared elsewhere. Volume I has a fine portrait of the author drawn by Joaquin Ynza and engraved by Juan Antonio Salvador Carmona. Included in the Coleccion is a section on the 1780-1782 Tupac Amaru rebellion in Peru - the foremost of the eighteenth-century Indian revolutions (I, 225-41). San Alberto also deals with orphanages in Córdoba (I, 242-367) and war against pagan Indians (II, 524-33), and sets out an interesting "Relox espiritual para llevar a Dios presente en toda hora" (II, 774-813), illustrated with woodcut diagrams of clocks. Frei José Antonio de San Alberto (1727-1804), born in the Aragonese town of Fresno, professed in the Carmelite convent in Zaragoza in 1744 and was named prior of the Convent of St. Theresa in 1766. He later became procurador general of the Order in Madrid and acted as royal preacher and examinador sinodal for the Archbishop of Toledo. In 1778 he was appointed Bishop of Córdoba de Tucumán by King Charles III, and in 1786 became Bishop of La Plata. He was one of the outstanding prelates of the late colonial period in Latin America, known for his learning and for his charity to the poor. For his contributions to education, he has been compared to Domingo F. Sarmiento, father of the educational system in Argentina. René-Moreno comments, "The characteristics of the writings of San Alberto are: persuasive reasoning based upon a great deal of first-hand knowledge of the sacred scriptures and canons. They follow a simple and cohesive structure and a mellifluous tone which draws even the most profane readers. This last feature has assured a lasting success to his writings" (no. 508).*** Palau 289474: calling for a portrait and 418 + 369 + 830 pp. [sic]. Medina, BHA 5208: collating as this copy. Sabin 75979. NUC: ICN, WU, PU, RPJCB.