Heading: (California)
Author: Philip V, King of Spain
Title: Manuscript Royal Order to Colonize the Californias, signed by Philip V, King of Spain
Place Published: Madrid
Publisher:
Date Published: August 13, 1705
Description:

Document signed, "Yo el Rey." 2 pages, in ink, on both sides of single sheet. 29.7x20.2 cm (11¾x8").

Highly important document from the Spanish King, authorizing the establishment of missions in the Californias, a foundation document of California history and the colonization by the Spanish. It is addressed to Francisco Fernandez de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Albuquerque & Viceroy of New Spain, and gives Father Maria de Salvatierra of the Jesuits authorization to establish missions, as well requesting a report on his progress.

Expeditions to California were prohibited during the Tarahumara wars, but with their end, the Vice-Roy authorized Father Juan Maria de Salvatierra to raise funds for colonization in 1697. Bancroft, History of the North Mexican Stales and Texas, Vol. l, pp. 278-280 covers this, but Bancroft does not mention the royal authorization (presumably because he had not seen the document). This document is evidence of Phillip V's interest in the colonization of California. Wagner, Spanish Southwest 130, notes that "Father Salvatierra was an Italian, born in Milan of an Italian mother and a Spanish father...in 1666 he entered the Company of Jesus, and in 1675 arrived in Mexico, in company with Father Juan Baptista Zappa. After completing his studies in Mexico he was sent to the Sinaloa missions, and after ten years' service became visitador of the province. The first thing that occurred was the uprising of the Pima Indians in 1690." Salvatierra was later one of the pioneers in taking an expedition of the Spanish into California and founding early missions.

An exceptionally rare document of paramount import. The only auction records for documents signed by Phillip V related to California we could find were three for ecclesiastical offices, which were sold by the Eberstadts in a Parke-Bernet sale in 1968.

Left edge showing neat but uneven tears, not affecting the front but affecting a couple of words on the verso; two chips in top margin just touching a few letters. Very good.