Illuminated Carta de Hidalguia, Melchor de Herrera y Rivera to Philip II, 1592

Illuminated Carta de Hidalguia, patent of nobility from Melchor de Herrera y Rivera, Marquis de Auñon to Philip II of Spain, October 9, 1592. 

Good folio, 9" x 13", hand printed on vellum with half-page illuminated coat of arms “Don Filipe” with image of Madonna and Child in red, blue, and purple ink. 16 leaves with text in Spanish calligraphy. Toning, soiling to front, chips to wrap edges, stitched binding with cloth ribbon still present but no longer holding. Various notations in fountain pen to wraps, interior clean, text sharp and legible throughout. Signature page with nine signatories, notary initials at bottom of each page. [32] pp., unpaginated. A petition issued on behalf of the Marquis de Auñon, Melchor de Herrera y Rivera to King Philip II requesting the securing of his properties under his title.  This petition and lawsuit was drafted after the Marquis was excluded from the Treasury Council for defrauding the Royal Treasury in 1591, and immediately following The Battle of Flores. A month after this document was issued, Philip’s parliament would revolt and he would execute his Attorney General.  Alvarez-Nogal, Chamley, 26.3.