Spanish Carte about Argentinean Family

TYPE: Book

DIMENSIONS: 300mm x 197mm; 303mm x 202mm)

COMPONENTS: Two volumes in folio; vellum and paper; both volumes uniformly bound in red morocco gilt, spines in compartments, with floral devices, boards lavishly gilt, with cornerpieces in rococo design, clasps in perfect shape, perhaps added later. Collation is as follows: 298 nn leaves [i.e. 596 pages] + 1 [blank] + 9 nn [i.e. 18 pages]; 26 nn leaves. Complete.

CONDITION: Binding condition corners slightly worn, some soiling, minor leather loss on boards and spine, else fine. Text condition a couple of wax seals with some loss as usual, last seal from the first volume detached, browning to a few pages, else clean and fresh

NOTES: A remarkable document, of magnificent beauty and historical relevance. Extremely important Grant of Arms, both for it contains the trial along with the Ejecutoria uniformly bound in contemporary red morocco, as well as for it was given to one of the most prominent families of Argentina, which, a few years later, supported the Independence by financing the first fleet and actively participating in the struggles.

ITEM ID: 660

DATE

Year: 1785

Decade: 1780s

Century: 18th (1701-1800)

Spanish Grant of Amrs [Carta Executoria] to an Argentinean family by Charles III, King of Spain, which founded the first National Fleet in the war of Independence.

Extremely important Grant of Arms, both for it contains the trial along with the Ejecutoria, as well as for it was given to one of the most prominent families of Argentina, which, a few years later, supported the Independence by financing the first fleet and actively participating in the struggles. The first part is a manuscript on paper, refers to the procedure taken to prove the nobility of the family requesting the confirmation, giving a full report of the origins and behavior of the family, specially taking into account the towns and cities related to the family, public service, religion, loyalty to the King, amongst other factors, where taken into account, the examination was exhaustive/extensive, a single spot likely beeing sufficient to deny the request. The volume is written in at least three different hands, for the most part beeing uniform, changing towards the end after the blank before the last 9m leaves. There are several wax seals as usual, as well as official papers with the Crown´s seal, this papers signed by public officers, one by the King “Yo el Rey”. The second volume is a manuscript on vellum, illuminated and illustrated. Illustrated with three full page illuminations, a cartouche with the name “Gurruchaga” and five large historieted initials. The full page illuminations are: the family´s coat of arms, a helmet over a frame enclosing two wild pigs standing over a helmut tree, continues with a family tree, which ends with “D[o]n Josef de Gurruchaga, natural de la Villa de Anzuóla, vecino de Buenos-Ayres”, finely executed and then a full page illumination, headed by the Spanish Royal coat of arms and with the name “Don Julian Joseph Brochero” on centre. Signed at he end by Pinedo, certifying that Julian Josep Brochero is the oldest Chronist of the King and approving his desition to Grant Arms to Gurruchaga.Ejecutorias granted to American families are extremely more hard to find than those granted to Spanish citizens. Joseph of Gurruchaga, along with his brother, Francisco Bruno, were born in Salta to one of the richest families in Argentina, their father a noble and their mother from a patrician family. At an early age, they were taken to study at the Seminary of Nobles of Madrid, from there went on to handle the family bussiness in Cadiz and to occupy several as an officer for the Spanish goverment. Their loyalty was proving when they fought in Trafalgar under Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros –later Viceroy of the Rio de la Plata. It was not until Charles IV relinquished power to his son Fernando VII and the latter to Napoleon´s brother then they decided to take part of the Independence cause. As argentinian politicians, the brothers participated in theRevolución de Mayo [May Revolution, which decided to take power on behave of Fernando VII, who had been taken prisoner by Jose Bonaparte “Pepe Botella” as a result of theFarsa de Ballona] and contributed actively in financing the Revolution, in particular, Belgrano´s army. In 1811, the Gurruchaga´s personally financed the first national fleet, which consisted of three war ships, which was lead by Azopardo. The fleet was soon destroyed by the Spanish Armada, as a result, Francisco Gurruchaga presents himself again, offering another fleet, this time consisting of seven ships. After this, they paid personally for the mail for a period of 30 years.