Colophon Books

Description

Pope Innocent the XIth [1611-1689]
Pope Innocent the XIth [Benedetto Odescalchi] Saviour of Hungary. Letter holder With papal crests. c1675-80

HISTORCAL Biography:
Pope Innocent the XIth (Benedetto Odescalchi. Born 16th May 1611-12 August 1689).
WHAT IT WE ARE OFFERING is A UNIQUE presentation letter holder to Cardinal (later Pope Clement the 12th) Lorenzo Corsini probably about 1675-85. The gilt tooling on both sides of this folding open sided wallet was, to our research to date probably done by the “Rospigliosi Bindary” and undertaken by the two brothers Gregorio & Giovanni Andreoli in Rome.There is a binding cover for a book owned by Pope Innocent 11th in the British Library collections with a very similar is size and style matching lion as appears on this letter wallet here. [Shelfmark C68d11]. There was another bindery to consider, but cannot locate any papal binding for this pope, the “Enigmatic Binder”. The strong lean towards the former bindery is the fan and corner panels, the lion (as stated) and the fact they had worked on books for this pope. Examples of their work was reproduced in 1991 alongside their tools 1565-1700 in the exhibition catalogue of the Palazzo Braschi pages 31-46. The Size is 10.5 x 4 inches (26 x 10 cm approx). There is a little damage commensurate with age, a split started at top area of the spine, gilt tooling slightly rubbed in places with small areas of surface loss, bottom back corner has rounded with wear and loss here also of the leather, but at very tip only. There is the remains of one silken tie, and 4 pin holes that may have had a silver lozenge shaped piece in the centre of the two armorial panels. For the silk ties to be affixed to. The interior has marbled paper that again is worn in places through use but not displeasing to the eye and touch, this also appears to date to the binding. The leather is still supple and it opens and closes without too much fear of any splitting occurring, nor should it be if treated carefully.
HISTORICAL NOTES on this Pope: The controversy that surround Pope Innocent the 11th for 330 years was revived in 2003 with a book titled “Imprimatur” that appears to identify the pope has being responsible for the advancement of 120 million currency to William of Orange to succeed him to the English throne and to stymie Louis the XIVth from total European domination in 1683. However his crusade of Christian princes and kings to defeat the Turkish invaders of Vienna and Hungary that forever held in check their Islamic advancement further through Europe seems to have been dismissed by modern history. Although Hungary does celebrate his life and death on August 13th and they consider him their Saviour from Islam. ALSO Due to The King of France, who disliked his abolition of the Edict of Nantes and then thwarting his persecution of French Huguenots and also the same year the Pope abolished the right of asylum for criminals avoiding prosecution by hiding in embassies from the Papal courts, excommunicating the French Ambassador in Rome Marquis de Lavardin when Louis refused in 1687 to comply. A very exclusive piece of Catholic and Roman History.