Patente de la Congregacion Fundada en la Parrochia del Inclyto Martyr S. Sebastian de Mexico... [caption title]

[Mexico, 1760. Very good plus.. [3]pp., on a bifolium, completed in manuscript. Contemporary ink signatures and original paper seal at bottom left of first leaf recto; extensive manuscript notations on second leaf. Previously folded; light edge wear and creasing. Minor tanning and soiling. An attractively illustrated and scarce example of a confraternity patent for a religious order in mid-18th century Mexico. This bifolium confers membership to and lists the benefits for those inducted into the congregation of the Parish of San Sebastian, and was filled out and given to a woman, Teresa Ruiz, on October 25, 1761. The first leaf recto is attractively printed, containing a skillful engraved illustration of the Virgin Mary accompanied by St. Joseph and St. Sebastian on each side, with Jesus holding the Eucharist in a cloud over head, and decorated with numerous detailed printers' ornaments. The text on this page prints the principal benefits of membership, which include assistance with all burial rites upon death, twenty-five pesos paid to surviving family following the same, and inclusion in all masses said for the congregation as well as in all graces and indulgenced received by it. The interior two pages print a list of sixteen indulgences conferred upon the congregation by Pope Benedict XIV. Most interestingly, three manuscript notes, each dated September 1807, record that the female recipient of the patent passed away earlier that month in the Convento de Jesus Maria, that she received burial rites in accordance with her membership, and that twenty-five pesos was paid out by the treasury of the congregation. Scarce, we locate one other copy of this patent, at the University of Pennsylvania; the Newberry hold a copy of a later edition with a different illustration. A very interesting document of popular piety and local religious organization in 18-century Mexico.