The book "Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 30 of 55, 1640 Expeditions of Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Inhabitants, Their History and Records of Catholic Missions as Presented in Contemporary Books and Manuscripts" offers the reader an in-depth study of the history of the Philippine Islands through the lens of studies, reviews and reports of early navigators. The authors, Diego Aduarte and Antonio Álvarez de Abreu, offer a unique perspective on the culture, life and religiosity of the islanders, and reveal the history and important events related to the Catholic missions of the time. This book contains precious gems from the history of the Philippine Islands that help to better understand their development and interactions with other cultures and civilizations.