Add MS 8766-8768

CARAFA LETTER-BOOKS: Dispatches from Cardinals Francesco and Antonio Barberini to Pier Luigi Carafa as papal nuncio to Cologne (17 Apr. 1624 - 20 Nov. 1634); 1624-1635. Italian, Latin and Spanish. Signed, partly in cipher, partly copies. Original letters and dispatches sent to Carafa by Cardinal Nepote Francesco Barberini, Cardinal Antonio Barberini, brother of Pope Urban VIII and usually called Cardinal of St. Onofrio, Cardinal Giovanni Garzia Millini, and Nicolò Guidi del Bagno, and instructions for the new post sent by Cardinal Lorenzo Magalotti (Add. 8766, ff. 8-22), secretary of state of the Pope. Including original attachments to the dispatches. With summaries of contents at back of dispatches in Carafa's hand. Other collections of dispatches to and from Carafa in Add. 8765 and 8769. A copy of Magalotti's instructions also in Add. 20806, ff. 9-30. The dispatches are published from the present MSS., with full reference to other MSS. and comprehensive bibliography, and detailed description of attachments, in Nuntiaturberichte aus Deutschland, nebst ergänzenden Aktenstücken. Die Kölner Nuntiatur, ed. by Joseph Wijnhoven, Band vii, vols. 1, 3-4 (Paderborn etc, 1980-1995), passim: summaries of the contents of Add. 8766 in vol. 1, pp. LIV-LV and LVIII, of Add. 8767 and 8768 in vol. 3, p. XX, of Add. 8768 in vol. 4, pp. XVIII. For Pier Luigi Carafa see DBI, 19 (1976), pp. 596-599. Old shelfmarks in ink 'X/v/15', 'X/v/16', 'X/v/14' at centre of first old front flyleaves. Owned by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, but lacking his armorial bookplate. '526' in pencil in top right corner of first old front flyleaves. Purchased from R. H. Evans, 8 Dec. 1830, lot 526.

Paper. Three volumes. Several scribes, one identifiable with Camillo Gramineo, secretary in the papal chancery (see Nuntiaturberichte..., op cit., t. 1, p. LXXI); summaries of contents at back of dispatches in Carafa's hand (cfr. Nuntiaturberichte..., op.cit., t. 1, p. LXX). Guilford bindings of quarter vellum with covers of marble paper over pasteboards.