Francisco de Ribera - 'La vie de la mere Terese de Jésus' - 1607

Francisco de Ribera - 'La vie de la mere Terese de Jésus - Antwerp, Gaspar Bellerus, 1607

La Vie de la Mere Terese de Jesus, Founder of the Discalced Carmelites: Composed by the Rev. François de Ribera, Doctor of Theology of the Society of Jesus...

First French translation of the first biography of Teresa of Avila, written by her confessor Francisco de Ribera in 1590 in Spanish, here translated in 1607 in Antwerp

Printer: Antwerp, at Gaspar Bellere, en la Canterstrate à l'Aigle d'or. 1607

Engraver: C. de Mallery fecit – Charles de Mallery, famous Antwerp engraver (1571-1635) – 426 fl. + Frontispiece

Illustrated with an engraved title page showing Teresa in the IHS emblem, with left PAX ANIMAE and right SILENTIVM; and a portrait 'LA MERE TERESE DE IESVS Fondatrice des Carmes deschaussées. Trespassa l'an 1582 âgée de 68 ans.'

Dedication: 'A LA TRES-GLORIEVSE TOVSIOVRS VIERGE MARIE MERE DE DIEV' with the text that the translator was a Carthusian

In a parchment binding with handwritten 'Vie de Ste Thérèse par de Ribera 1607' on the spine - 13.5 x 9 x 5 cm - 426 fl - last leaves Table missing, extends to 'L' - still one of the two pairs of binding cords remaining.

Of this Ribera 1607 edition there are in STCV only 4 copies known in Flemish libraries. Worldwide perhaps 15-20.

Teresa died in 1582, canonized in 1622. This 1607 book was thus printed between her death and canonization, a very early propagation edition by the Carmelites. Antwerp 1607 is a peak period of Counter-Reformation printing.