Subject: 17th century

This 1911 pamphlet is a reprint of Publication No. 20 from the American Jewish Historical Society. It focuses on Francisco de Faria, an American Jew, and his connection to the Popish Plot of the late 17th century. The original 1680 printed document is referenced, and this reprint offers a historical perspective on de Faria's involvement in this significant historical event.

This 24-page book, printed in Lisbon in 1649, contains the statutes of the Portuguese General Trade Company of Brazil. Established after Portugal's independence, the company aimed to promote trade between Portugal and its Brazilian colony, utilizing the financial resources and networks of New Christians (converted Jews). Its creation was advised by Father António Vieira to revitalize the Portuguese economy, particularly in the face of Dutch competition. The company's establishment and privileges faced criticism from the Christian clergy due to the involvement of New Christians and concerns about its implications for religious orthodoxy.

A letter dated January 24, 1637, from the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Peru to the Inquisition in Mexico. The letter notifies the Mexican Inquisition of a Portuguese merchant and auctioneer, Gonzalo Barraza, suspected of practicing Judaism. Six witnesses testified against him, and the Peruvian Inquisition requests his immediate arrest. Historical records indicate Barraza's apprehension in Cartagena, Colombia, by 1641. The letter is written in Spanish and includes two attached pages. The original document shows some wear and a small tear affecting a few words at the right margin. Folio. Peru: January 24, 1637

This 1650 edition of Menasseh Ben Israel's *Mikveh Yisrael* (Hope of Israel), printed in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) by Semuel ben Israel Soeiro in Amsterdam, is a seminal work arguing that the Lost Tribes of Israel are to be found in the Americas. The book prominently features the account of Aharon Levi (Antonio de Montezinos), who describes encountering South American Indians—descendants of the tribes of Reuben and Levi—who maintained ancient Jewish practices. This work's popularity led to translations in Dutch, Latin, Hebrew, Yiddish, and English, significantly influencing the readmission of Jews to England in 1655.

This is a first edition of Domingo de Soussa's sermon delivered at the public Auto de Fe held by the Holy Office of the Inquisition in New Spain on June 14, 1699. The sermon recounts the trial and execution of Fernando de Medina, a merchant accused of secretly practicing Judaism. De Medina's defiant refusal to renounce his faith and his final declaration of dying as a Jew are central to the narrative. The book includes a title within a typographic border and an engraving on the first page. It is exceptionally rare, with no institutional holdings listed in WorldCat.

This 1680 pamphlet contains the testimony of Francisco de Faria, an American-born Jew, delivered before the House of Commons on November 1, 1680, concerning the Popish Plot. The pamphlet details de Faria's background, his recruitment as an agent in Antwerp, and his involvement with English Catholics. His testimony contributed to the narrative of the Popish Plot, a supposed conspiracy by Catholics to overthrow the English government. The collection also includes two related pamphlets and an article by Lee M. Friedman from the American Jewish Historical Society Journal (No. 20, 1911) that discusses de Faria's life and testimony.

This archival collection contains three letters exchanged between brothers Manuel Brandão Pantoja and André Aguilar Pantoja between circa 1648 and 1650. The letters detail aspects of the sugar trade in Bahia, Brazil, during a period of conflict with Dutch forces. They provide insights into the operation of sugar plantations (engenhos), the individuals involved in the trade, and the presence of Jewish merchants who had fled the Inquisition. The collection also includes an eighteenth-century archive of seven genealogical documents on the Gouvea, Brandão, and Pantoja families, along with a typescript transcription of the three letters (approximately 50 pages). The original letters are manuscripts on paper, comprising 22 leaves. The materials are unbound and preserved in a modern archival folder. Folio (32.2 x 33.1 cm.), modern gray archival folding case. Occasional minor staining is present. The final page of the third letter has a repaired loss affecting several words. There is some weakness along folds in parts of the genealogical material.