[Spain. Carta executoria hidalguia 1593] "Sobre Carta de una carta ex.a. hidalguia

Apedim.o. de Juan de Escobar de Mendoça (...)". "Al nuestro justicia mayor, y a los del nuestro conssejo pressidente y oidores de las nuestras audiencias alcaldes, alguaciles de la nuestra cassa y corte y chancillerias, y á los conseja assistente, gobernadores, corregidores, jucces alcaldes (...)." Manuscript in clean hand on vellum, dated at the end "Granada, a veynte y un dias del mes de henero de mill & quin. [quinentos] .e noventa y tres anas" (1593), comprising 144,(1) vellum leaves written on both sides, with decorated and gold-heightened calligraphed salutation of king Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) and with 32 large initials (and 1 smaller) in gouache and gold of which one with splendid miniature portrait of Philip II (?), original (produced in Granada) very profusely gilt calf (fanfare binding) across boards (using older manuscript material on paper), all edges gilt, 32.5 x 23 cm.

Book at fore-edge affected by water, with traces throughout the entire bookblock, yet only in a few places affecting text or initials (more so at beginning and end). The first leaf with dedication and family arms have slightly run off (also on facing leaf) and the silk protection of the family arms has slightly given off. Both boards and vellum endpapers affected/ damaged by damp, ties lacking. Compare Egerton 3296 for a similar document and binding from 1597 at the British Library. The Carta executoria was a document issued in the name of the king in order to confirm the noble status of a citizen. Our Carta was given by king Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) on the aforementioned date to Juan de Escobar de Mendoça. Our copy has at the front, mounted between two red silk protective sheets, a splendid large coat of arms (30.5 x 20.4 cm.) of the Mendoza family (bottom half of the arms not identified by us), and preserves the lead grand seal of Philip II (in excellent condition) still affixed with the original multicolour cord. The manuscript is signed on verso of leaf 144 in pen by 3 alcaldes: Diego Mesia de Frias, Diego Lucio Luzero and Alonso de Eraso. On the reverse of the salutation the contemporary signature of Diego de Torres has been added. The last three pages are (contemporaneously) in another handwriting and each signed, probably an approbation by a notary. An exceptional example of a Carta executoria hidalguia due to the large number of leaves and the mounted seal. The damage to the edge of the front board clearly shows the board consisting of a large number of attached older manuscript leaves.