Papal bulla of Leo X (1475-1521). "Leo episcopus servus servorum Dei

ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Eximie devotionis affectus et integra fides quibus Carissimus in XIV filius IIX [?] Maximilianus Imperatorem (...)." Papal bulla by Pope Leo X (pope from 1513 to 1521), calligraphed manuscript on fold. vellum, 55 x 75 cm, dated "Tertio Mon. Novembr. Pontificatus Nri. Anno Secundo" (3 November 1514, in the text "millesima quingentisima quarto decimo"), with various signatures in lower margin (incl. P. Blondus), on verso of lower margin "S. Bernardus" (perhaps a monastery for which this copy of the bulla was intended), with the original attached lead seal ("bulla") with "Leo papa X" on one side and the heads of Paul and Peter on the other side, on the original red and yellow silk cord (in splendid condition).

A very interesting and rare papal bulla by Pope Leo X, born as Giovanni de' Medici, son of Lorenzo I de' Medici (il Magnifico). He was pope from 1513 up to his death in 1521, so our document dates from 1514, the second year of his pontificate. On 14 January 1514, Leo X issued a papal bull against slavery. We found out that on 3 November 1514, Leo issued the bull Precelsae devotionis, in which he renewed the concessions made by his predecessors to Portugal and granted it the lands acquired from infidels, not only up to the Indies, but in any region whatsoever. We could not establish a link between that bull and ours, issued on the same day.