1718 - History of the Future - Apocalypticism
António Vieira (1608 - 1697) was a Portuguese Jesuit priest, prolific writer, and gifted orator. Born in Lisbon, he moved to Brazil as a child and later became a staunch defender of Indigenous rights and an advocate for the better treatment of enslaved people.
Vieira's sermons and writings are considered some of the finest examples of Portuguese literature, and his influence extended to both Portugal and Brazil. He held important political positions, serving as a diplomat and advisor to the Portuguese king, and he was also a key figure in the development of Brazilian culture and identity.
"História do Futuro" ("History of the Future") is a complex and enigmatic work that blends theology, prophecy, and historical analysis. The book is structured around the concept of the Fifth Empire, a prophesied era of universal peace and spiritual renewal. Vieira draws on biblical sources, particularly the Book of Daniel, to construct his vision of the future, but he also incorporates elements of Portuguese and Jewish mysticism. Some scholars have suggested that Vieira's prophecies contain coded messages or hidden meanings that could be deciphered through esoteric knowledge. The work is a reflection of the millenarian and messianic movements that were prevalent in Europe during the 17th century. One particularly intriguing aspect of "História do Futuro" is Vieira's emphasis on the role of Portugal and the Portuguese people in the coming Fifth Empire. He believed that Portugal had a special destiny to fulfill, and he saw himself as a prophet charged with revealing this destiny to the world. This is an extremely scarce first edition of this exceptional work.
1718. António Vieira. HISTORIA DO FUTURO. [History of the Future] LIVRO ANTEPRIMEYRO PROLOGOMENO A TODA A HISTORIA DO FUTURO, EM QUE SE DECLARA O FIM, & SE PROVAÕ OS FUNDAMENTOS DELLA. Lisbon: Na Officina de Antonio Pedrozo Galram. Full speckled leather, with morocco label, gilt, and raised bands on spine. 4to; *-2*8 3*2 A-Z8 (lacks I7) 2A6. Roman type with italic; text in Portuguese. With printed marginalia, device on title page and woodcut head-pieces. Boards scuffed and chipped, with stain to upper board, edgewear, corners bumped, and several small wormholes; spine and joints rubbed, light creases, with losses mostly at head and tail, joints cracked at head; cracking at hinges, endpapers with wormholes, stains and manuscript, one free front endpaper with one full page of 19th- century writing in Italian; title page with manuscript and one stamp; pages lightly toned with scattered foxing mostly at edges, occasional tear or edge or corner loss, lacking one leaf (pages 141 and 142); somewhat fragile volume but with pages overall extremely clean and crisp.
António Vieira (1608 - 1697) was a Portuguese Jesuit priest, prolific writer, and gifted orator. Born in Lisbon, he moved to Brazil as a child and later became a staunch defender of Indigenous rights and an advocate for the better treatment of enslaved people.
Vieira's sermons and writings are considered some of the finest examples of Portuguese literature, and his influence extended to both Portugal and Brazil. He held important political positions, serving as a diplomat and advisor to the Portuguese king, and he was also a key figure in the development of Brazilian culture and identity.
"História do Futuro" ("History of the Future") is a complex and enigmatic work that blends theology, prophecy, and historical analysis. The book is structured around the concept of the Fifth Empire, a prophesied era of universal peace and spiritual renewal. Vieira draws on biblical sources, particularly the Book of Daniel, to construct his vision of the future, but he also incorporates elements of Portuguese and Jewish mysticism. Some scholars have suggested that Vieira's prophecies contain coded messages or hidden meanings that could be deciphered through esoteric knowledge. The work is a reflection of the millenarian and messianic movements that were prevalent in Europe during the 17th century. One particularly intriguing aspect of "História do Futuro" is Vieira's emphasis on the role of Portugal and the Portuguese people in the coming Fifth Empire. He believed that Portugal had a special destiny to fulfill, and he saw himself as a prophet charged with revealing this destiny to the world. This is an extremely scarce first edition of this exceptional work.
1718. António Vieira. HISTORIA DO FUTURO. [History of the Future] LIVRO ANTEPRIMEYRO PROLOGOMENO A TODA A HISTORIA DO FUTURO, EM QUE SE DECLARA O FIM, & SE PROVAÕ OS FUNDAMENTOS DELLA. Lisbon: Na Officina de Antonio Pedrozo Galram. Full speckled leather, with morocco label, gilt, and raised bands on spine. 4to; *-2*8 3*2 A-Z8 (lacks I7) 2A6. Roman type with italic; text in Portuguese. With printed marginalia, device on title page and woodcut head-pieces. Boards scuffed and chipped, with stain to upper board, edgewear, corners bumped, and several small wormholes; spine and joints rubbed, light creases, with losses mostly at head and tail, joints cracked at head; cracking at hinges, endpapers with wormholes, stains and manuscript, one free front endpaper with one full page of 19th- century writing in Italian; title page with manuscript and one stamp; pages lightly toned with scattered foxing mostly at edges, occasional tear or edge or corner loss, lacking one leaf (pages 141 and 142); somewhat fragile volume but with pages overall extremely clean and crisp.
António Vieira (1608 - 1697) was a Portuguese Jesuit priest, prolific writer, and gifted orator. Born in Lisbon, he moved to Brazil as a child and later became a staunch defender of Indigenous rights and an advocate for the better treatment of enslaved people.
Vieira's sermons and writings are considered some of the finest examples of Portuguese literature, and his influence extended to both Portugal and Brazil. He held important political positions, serving as a diplomat and advisor to the Portuguese king, and he was also a key figure in the development of Brazilian culture and identity.
"História do Futuro" ("History of the Future") is a complex and enigmatic work that blends theology, prophecy, and historical analysis. The book is structured around the concept of the Fifth Empire, a prophesied era of universal peace and spiritual renewal. Vieira draws on biblical sources, particularly the Book of Daniel, to construct his vision of the future, but he also incorporates elements of Portuguese and Jewish mysticism. Some scholars have suggested that Vieira's prophecies contain coded messages or hidden meanings that could be deciphered through esoteric knowledge. The work is a reflection of the millenarian and messianic movements that were prevalent in Europe during the 17th century. One particularly intriguing aspect of "História do Futuro" is Vieira's emphasis on the role of Portugal and the Portuguese people in the coming Fifth Empire. He believed that Portugal had a special destiny to fulfill, and he saw himself as a prophet charged with revealing this destiny to the world. This is an extremely scarce first edition of this exceptional work.
1718. António Vieira. HISTORIA DO FUTURO. [History of the Future] LIVRO ANTEPRIMEYRO PROLOGOMENO A TODA A HISTORIA DO FUTURO, EM QUE SE DECLARA O FIM, & SE PROVAÕ OS FUNDAMENTOS DELLA. Lisbon: Na Officina de Antonio Pedrozo Galram. Full speckled leather, with morocco label, gilt, and raised bands on spine. 4to; *-2*8 3*2 A-Z8 (lacks I7) 2A6. Roman type with italic; text in Portuguese. With printed marginalia, device on title page and woodcut head-pieces. Boards scuffed and chipped, with stain to upper board, edgewear, corners bumped, and several small wormholes; spine and joints rubbed, light creases, with losses mostly at head and tail, joints cracked at head; cracking at hinges, endpapers with wormholes, stains and manuscript, one free front endpaper with one full page of 19th- century writing in Italian; title page with manuscript and one stamp; pages lightly toned with scattered foxing mostly at edges, occasional tear or edge or corner loss, lacking one leaf (pages 141 and 142); somewhat fragile volume but with pages overall extremely clean and crisp.