Cartas first appeared with the Madrid [that is, London] 1805 imprint, despite the fact that the title page identified it as the second.

First edition of the first book in Portuguese on freemasonry, as well as the first book on the subject by a Brazilian author, now "attributed unequivocally to the Brazilian journalist Hippolyto da Costa;" according to Moraes. The letters offer an explanation of the humanitarian principles of freemasonry, an institution accepted in England, France, Prussia, the United States and other countries, but not in Spain or Portugal due to persecution by the Inquisition.

Signatures: pi1 (pi1 verso blank) [1]⁸ ([1]₁ verso blank) 2⁴ 3-12⁸⁻⁴ 13⁸.

See: Moraes, R.B. de. Bibliografia brasileira do período colonial, page 241.

Silva, I.F. da. Diccionário bibliográphico portuguez, III: page 199-200

Purchase; 2018; 18-447.