[MANUSCRIPT]
Carta Executoria de Hidalguia. Granada: May 16, 1600 (dated and localized thus on the verso of folio 96). Period binding of brown goatskin, covers heavily gilt, with two concentric central panels of azured tools; the panels divided by an arabesque border, the whole framed with a broad curvilinear border from a roll. Spine in five compartments decorated with a variety of small floral tools. 12 inches (30.5 cm). 104 vellum leaves. First leaf blank, the second with elaborate full page illumination on recto and verso. Recto: the grantee's arms, surmounted with a portrait of the grantee on horseback, with borders of saints, putti, swags of fruit, etc. Verso: a finely illuminated portrait of Philip III at top, below this his titles in gilt on a purple ground, the whole with elaborate borders at the sides with floral motifs. The text is written in a fine bookhand throughout, and contains 12 exceptional large illuminated initials of saints. Leaves 95 through 104 are ruled for notarization; three are used for this purpose. Some generally minor wear to the binding, with a small loss of leather to the head of the rear board. Smudging to one illuminated initial, but internally clean, with satin guardsheets protecting the two major illuminations. Several small ownership stamps in ink.
A fine example of a carta executoria, in favor of Diego Cavanillas, with illumination of unusually high standard, in a first-rate Spanish bookbinding of the period. Depicted on the opening page of illumination is St. Diego, presumably Diego Cavanillas's patron saint.