General Auction Including Antiques, Collectables, Militaria, Nautical, Gold & Silver (14% Buyers Commission)
Lot 183:
Description
A high-quality facsimile edition of the 1588 letter from the Viceroy of India, Dom Duarte de Menezes, to the Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The set is presented in a large black cardboard folio box, the lid of which is decorated with a silver-printed Portuguese coat of arms and a repeating interlaced CF monogram pattern, identifying the publisher as the Comissao Nacional para as Comemoracoes dos Descobrimentos Portugueses (CNCDP). The primary item is a large-format reproduction of the illuminated 16th-century letter on heavy parchment-style paper. The document features elaborate hand-coloured borders containing heraldic coats of arms labelled Quirinalis, Caelius, Palatinus, Tarpe, Aventinvs, Exqvilivs, and Viminalis, alongside classical figures and motifs. The Portuguese text is dated April 1588 and bears the signature Viso Rey da India. The facsimile includes a decorative red silk tassel. Accompanying the document is a softcover descriptive pamphlet titled A Carta do Vice-Rei D. Duarte de Menezes a Toyotomi Hideyoshi, housed in a dedicated interior pocket.
Box width: 43cm.
Condition report:
The exterior box exhibits minor shelf wear and scuffing at the corners. The internal facsimile document and the descriptive pamphlet are in very good condition.
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