The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 30 of 55, 1640 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century

"The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 30 of 55, 1640," compiled by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, is a journey through the colonial history of the Philippines. The historical book chronicles accounts surrounding the islands, focusing especially on the colonial era. The book captures a wide scope of topics. It showcases the early days of trade with European nations, the challenges encountered by Philippine colonies, and the influence of Dominican missions on local populations. It reveals the political and economic struggles of the time, especially highlighting commercial trade with Nueva España. This volume paints a picture of early missionary work, explores the socio-political world, and the overall impact of colonization on the lands to paint a broad picture of life in the Philippines during the colonial era.