William Reese Company

Cardinal Barberini in Barcelona

...RELACION VERDADERA DEL VIAJE, ENTRADA, Y RECIBIMIETO QUE LA CIUDAD DE BARCELONA HIZO A LA BUENA VENIDA DEL SEÑOR CARDENAL LEGADO, EN 18, DE MARÇO DESTE AÑO DE 1626.

[Barberini, Francesco]:

Madrid: Bernardino de Guzman, [ 1626]. [4]pp. In Spanish. Woodcut illustration of ship and boats landing near a castle on first page. Small folio. Dbd. Contemporary manuscript docketing on fourth page. Early folds. Large chip (approximately 2 3/4 x 2 inches) in lower outer corner of second leaf, touching a few of the final letters on ten lines of text; loss from worming on a few letters of a dozen lines of text. Wear along folds; all losses filled by silk. Good. Item #WRCAM39164

Spanish newsletter account of the historical visit of Cardinal Barberini to Barcelona during his 1626 diplomatic mission to Spain. Francesco Barberini of Florence (1597-1679) was the nephew of Pope Urban VIII and a prominent church leader during the 17th century, noted for his diplomatic activities during the Thirty Years' War and his extensive humanism. A lifelong supporter of artists, scientists, and intellectuals, Barberini was one of three of ten judges at Galileo's trial who refused to sign Galileo's sentence, and he was the founder of the renowned Barberini Library, a central meeting place for scholars in 17th-century Rome and home to one the world's great collections of manuscripts (now part of the Vatican Library). In February 1626, Barberini departed Rome as LEGATE A LATERE to Spain, where he negotiated with the Count-Duke of Olivares on the question of French and Spanish control of the Valtellina. On March 18, 1626, Barberini arrived in Barcelona amidst much fanfare, which is recounted in the present newsletter. The text describes the visit from the landing of the Papal embassy to a series of musical performances and celebrations and the various meetings between the young Cardinal and local dignitaries. OCLC locates no copies. Very rare. PALAU 257873.

Price: $1,750.00