[Mexico]. [Religion]

Patente de la Congregacion Fundada en la Parrochia del Inclyto Martyr S. Sebastian de Mexico... [caption title]

[Mexico: ca.1770]. [3]pp., on a bifolium. Previously folded. Completed in manuscript, with additional, later manuscript annotations. Some edge wear and staining. Light tanning and scattered foxing. Good plus. Item #4695

An attractively illustrated and scarce example of a confraternity patent for a religious order in mid-18th century Mexico. This bifolium confers membership to and lists the benefits for those inducted into the congregation of the Parish of San Sebastian, and was filled out and given to Sebastian Fabian Mendoza, on September 29, 1770. The first leaf recto is attractively printed, containing a skillful engraved illustration of the Virgin Mary accompanied by St. Joseph and St. Sebastian on each side, with Jesus holding the Eucharist in a cloud over head, and decorated with numerous detailed printers' ornaments. The text on this page prints the principal benefits of membership, which include assistance with all burial rites upon death, twenty-five pesos paid to surviving family following the same, and inclusion in all masses said for the congregation as well as in all graces and indulgenced received by it. The interior two pages print a list of sixteen indulgences conferred upon the congregation by Pope Benedict XIV. Most interestingly, several manuscript notes on the second leaf of the bifolium, each dated from 1807, record that the recipient of the patent passed away earlier that month in September, that he received burial rites in accordance with his membership, and that twenty-five pesos was paid out by the treasury of the congregation. Scarce, we locate one other copy of this patent, at the University of Pennsylvania; the Newberry holds a copy of a later edition with a different illustration. A very interesting document of popular piety and local religious organization in 18-century Mexico.

Price: $975.00