Agostino Tornielli (1543-1622) born in Novara (Italy), was a cleric, member of a religious order popularly named the Barnabites for their association with the church of St. Barnabas in Milan. Learning, the pursuit of which the Barnabites regard as a great preservative of religious observance has always been cultivated among them in all its branches. The order has been distinguished in theology, Biblical science and in ecclesiastical history by Tornielli, whose "Annales Sacri" are regarded as an introduction to those of Baronius; Ellies du Pin (Nouv. Bibl. des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques, vol. XVII p. 58) praises the work as an excellent commentary. Tornielli commentates upon the historical books of the Old Testament while trying to resolve historical problems as well as questions in the domains of geography and natural science. He was the first to initiate such approach to Scriptures, to be followed by many later generations of Biblical researchers. The first edition of his Annales appeared in Milan in 1609 and was reprinted a few times early seventeenth century. Our edition, with the commentary by Negri, is the last and only 18th century revised and extended edition ('optima editio': Hurter). Tiny wormholes in spines, causing a tear (10cm) in the vellum of volume 4.; Printer's device (6x8 cm) cut out from title-page of volume I; Small stamp on title-pages and half-titles; two small holes in lower cover of volume 4 and margin of last 100 pages, touching a few letters; some marginal waterstains but generally a nice and clean copy. Graesse, I, p. 296 (Baronius); Hurter, I, p. 646; Cf. also Buchberger, Lex. Theol. Kirche X/209; Hoefer, NBG XLV/498.