Carta Executoria of King Philip III of Spain for Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda.

Rare 17th century elaborately illuminated nobility patent of King Philip III of Spain for the brothers Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda. Quarto, bound in full leather with gilt detailing, the patent is comprised of 100 leaves numbered 1-99 in contemporary Arabic numerals, written in round Spanish script within a frame ruled in brown ink with decorated seven-line cadel initials and some in text illuminations. Decorated with two full-pages of illumination depicting the Virgin and Child in heaven with the brothers Juan de Rivera de la Cerda and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda kneeling below and an achievement of arms on pages 1 and 2 with red silk curtains between, and a smaller illuminated miniature of the king on page 97. In very good condition with the illuminated pages exceptionally bright, with some wear and losses to the leather including to the crown and foot of the spine.