AUTHOR: SEBASTIAN VIZCAINO

LANGUAGE: SPANISH

DATE: 1600

PAGE #: 85

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS MANUSCRIPT FROM MEXICO CITY IS THE RECORD OF TESTIMONY OFFERED BY SEBASTIAN VIZCAINO, 1550?-1615, AROUND 1597-1600 TO PROVE THE NOBLE STATUS OF HIS WIFE, MAGDALENA MARTINEZ OREJON, AND HER BROTHER, FRANCISCO MARTINEZ OREJON. VIZCAINO WAS A PROMINENT MEXICO CITY MERCHANT AND AN EXPLORER OF BAJA CALIFORNIA. THE PROOF OF NOBILITY WAS IMPORTANT TO DEFEND VIZCAINO’S BROTHER-IN-LAW IN A LAWSUIT THAT PUT HIM IN DEBTOR’S PRISON. THE TEXT IS WRITTEN IN AN ITALIC STYLE IN BLACK INK WITHIN RULED FRAMES, ON BOTH SIDES OF LEAVES OF PAPER. TWO LEAVES OF ILLUMINATED MINIATURES ON VELLUM ARE BOUND IN AT THE FRONT, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FACING. THE FIRST LEAF HAS TWO HALF-PAGE MINIATURES. THE UPPER ILLUSTRATION SHOWS MARY WITH THE CHRIST CHILD, SURROUNDED BY CLOUDS OVER A LANDSCAPE. THE LOWER ILLUSTRATION IS OF CHRIST SPEAKING TO A SAINT IN A FRANCISCAN HABIT IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME LANDSCAPE. THE FULL-PAGE MINIATURE IS A FULL-LENGTH PORTRAIT OF THE MARTINEZ FAMILY PATRIARCH, FERRAN MARTINEZ, IN FULL ARMOR AND WITH EYES FIXED ON THE FAMILY COAT OF ARMS. THE MEXICAN TOOLED LEATHER BINDING IS CONTEMPORARY WITH THE MANUSCRIPT.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.