Colonial Spanish America: Manuscripts

Early manuscript copy of pamphlet describing the 1624 conflict between the Viceroy don Diego Carrillo de Mendoza y Pimentel and the Archbishop of Mexico Juan Pérez de la Serna, and the riots that ensued in support of the Archbishop which led to the former being deposed.

This manuscript leaf was used as a fly-leaf inside a book published in the seventeenth century.

Compilation documenting the family history of De Ayala Marin Benavides y Arze family compiled as part of a petition for a patent of nobility. Documents are in a variety of hands, on paper sealed with dates ranging from 1651 to 1696, with the bulk from the 1690s. The first 92 folios are written in brown ink inside ruled frame. Designs of real and imaginary animals, many in caligraphic style, throughout. A second illustrated family history (135 folios) is illustrated with highly detailed historiated and zoomorphic initials, the largest of which measures 105 x 105 mm. These include scenes of nature, a city scape, various interior spaces, and portraits of Santiago Mataindios and possilby Philip IV. The remaining documents include signed testimonials. Among these are two documents in Latin with original seals, the will of Juan de Ayala Marín, and a description of the latter’s role in defending the Port of Callao.

An early manuscript transcript of two books published in Havana in 1796: Relacion del funeral, que hizo la muy noble y leal ciudad de La Havana a las cenizas del gran descubridor de las Americas y esclarecido almirante Don Cristobal Colon, pages 1-46, and Caballero, Joseph Agustín, Sermon funebre en elogio del excelentisimo señor don Cristobal Colon, pages 47-101. It describes the transfer of Columbus's remains from Santo Domingo to Havana, and the accompanying extravagant funeral procession and fanfare. It concludes with the eulogy given by the Cuban priest and philosopher, Dr. José Agustín Caballero, upon receiving the remains.