Eusebio Kino criticised Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora's: Exposito philosophica adversus cometas [this Latin edition cannot be traced], printed in Madrid, 1681. Cf. Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus.

In turn, Sigüenza y Góngora replied to Kino with his: Libra astronomicay philosophica, which was printed in Mexico City, 1690. Cf. Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus.

Signatures: pi⁴ (pi1 verso blank) [sec.]⁴ A-G⁴ (A2 missigned A3) (G4 verso blank)

Includes a woodcut printer's vignette of the Virgin Mary on the title page; head and tail pieces; initials.

Includes a folded engraved illustration of the path of the Kirch comet engraved by Antonio Ysarti with title: Delineacion y dibvjo de las constelaciones y partes del cielo por donde discvrrio el grandioso cometa que el año de 1680. por los meses de noviembre y diciembre y el de 1681 por los meses de Heneroy Febre se ha visto en todo el mundo con la descripcion del curso y movimiento proprio que este cometa tuvo cada uno de los dias qve dvro, bound before leaf 1 recto. The great comet of 1680, also called C/1680 V1, Kirch's Comet, and Newton's Comet, has the distinction of being the first comet discovered by telescope. It was discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1680 and became one of the brightest comets of the 17th century.

Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, 37936.

Streit, R. Bibliotheca missionum, II:2155.

Wagner, H.R. Spanish Southwest, 1542-1794, 62n.

Medina, J.T. Imprenta en ̌Mxico (1539-1821), 1228.

Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus. IV: col. 1044, no. 1.

Palau y Dulcet, A. Manual del librero hispano-americano (2. ed.), 128015.

Purchase; 1909; 05742.

John Carter Brown Library copy imperfect: lower right corner of leaves 1-28, 2nd count, and limp vellum binding is cut away, not affecting text; lower portion of leaf 28, 2nd count, is wanting, not affecting text or tail piece.

John Carter Brown Library copy has the folded engraved illustration of the path of the Kirch Comet, originally bound before leaf 1 recto, disbound and housed flat under call number: Print Me681 .Y91d.

John Carter Brown Library copy bound in contemporary full limp vellum.

Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy: Nicolás León: bookplate on front pastedown.