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an open book with a drawing of a coat of arms and a coat of arms on itan open book with a picture of a man in a crown on itan old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a table
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Estimate €800 - €1,200
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Description
Austria Francis I, Emperor Certificate of nobility for Lazarus Illits. Magnificent document in Latin on parchment bearing the Emperor’s autograph signature, full-page figurative-heraldic gouache depicting four coats of arms, including those of Hungary and Croatia, with an engraved Title page gilded with the Imperial Eagle and four coats of arms, as well as handwritten text pages with engraved, gilded borders and frames. Vienna, 1824. 7 leaves, 1 blank leaf, folio. Velvet binding with cord fastening (tanned and faded, without seal). The diploma belongs to the category of imperial letters of grace (litterae armales or diplomata nobilitatis), as issued by the Imperial or Court Chancellery since the late Middle Ages and which, in the Habsburg context, served as a central instrument of social mobility right up to the 19th century. The use of Latin as the language of the chancellery underscores the document’s official, supra-regional claim to validity within the multi-ethnic monarchy, whilst the Emperor’s autograph signature confers the highest legal validity upon the act. The full-page figurative-heraldic gouache, featuring four coats of arms—including those of Hungary and Croatia—follows the Baroque pictorial scheme of Viennese chancellery painting, which embeds coats of arms within an allegorical-architectural stage composition: crowned shields, usually accompanied by figures, trophies or drapery, set against a backdrop of columns, curtains and a landscape. The combination of the coats of arms of the crown lands of Hungary and Croatia indicates that Illits hailed from the Croatian-Hungarian administrative region of the Dual Monarchy and that his ennoblement was linked to services rendered or estates held in these territories – a characteristic pattern for the civil service, military or economic nobility in the multi-ethnic state of the Franciscan era. Such heraldic pages were traditionally executed by specialist chancellery painters at the Viennese Court Chancellery using the gouache technique with gold highlighting, a practice dating back to courtly heraldic painting of the 17th and 18th centuries, which was stylistically refined during the early Classical period, but continued in an iconographically conservative manner. The diploma was produced during the later years of the reign of Franz I (who reigned as Emperor of Austria from 1804, having previously been Franz II, the last Holy Roman Emperor, until 1806), a period characterised by the consolidation of the newly established Austrian Empire following the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna. The granting of nobility diplomas to distinguished individuals from the Crown Lands, such as Hungary and Croatia, also served political purposes during this period by fostering loyalty within the ethnically heterogeneous monarchy, as local elites were bound more closely to the imperial house through elevations in rank. The elaborate artistic decoration of such documents – painted coats of arms combined with engraved gold ornamentation – also reflects the representational aspirations of the Viennese Court Chancellery, which, even in an era of increasing bureaucratisation, held fast to the courtly tradition of sumptuous acts of grace. - Last page signed with certification by the sworn notary Josephum Krajescovics. - Last sheet trimmed (affecting 1 handwritten addition and 2 signatures; the Emperor’s signature remains intact). - Some finger stains, a few corners creased; otherwise in good overall condition. Austria – Hungary – Croatia. – Patent of Nobility for Lazarus Illits. A magnificent document in Latin on parchment signed by Emperor Franz I. Featuring a full-page gilded figurative heraldic gouache with four coats of arms, including those of Hungary and Croatia; an engraved gilded title page bearing the Imperial Eagle and four coats of arms; and handwritten text pages with engraved gilded borders and frames. Velvet binding with cord (browned and faded, without seal). - The diploma belongs to the genre of imperial letters of grace (litterae armales or diplomata nobilitatis), which had been issued by the Imperial or Court Chancery since the late Middle Ages and served, within the Habsburg context up to the 19th century, as a central instrument of social mobility. The use of Latin as the chancery language emphasises the official, supra-regional validity claimed by the document within the multi-ethnic monarchy, whilst the emperor’s autograph signature confers the highest legal force upon the document. The full-page figurative-heraldic gouache, featuring four coats of arms—including those of Hungary and Croatia—follows the Baroque pictorial style of Viennese chancery painting, which embeds heraldic shields within an allegorical-architectural composition: crowned shields, usually accompanied by figures, trophies or drapery, set against a backdrop of columns, curtains and a landscape. The combination of the crown lands’ coats of arms of Hungary and Croatia indicates that Illits originated from the Croatian-Hungarian administrative sphere of the dual monarchy, and that the ennoblement was linked to services or landholdings in these territories – a characteristic pattern for official, military, or mercantile nobility within the multi-ethnic state of the Franciscan era. Such heraldic pages were traditionally executed by specialised chancery painters of the Viennese Court Chancery using the gouache technique with gold highlighting, a practice rooted in courtly heraldic painting of the 17th and 18th centuries, which was stylistically refined during the early Classical period yet iconographically continued in a conservative manner. The diploma was produced during the later years of the reign of Francis I (who reigned as Emperor of Austria from 1804, having previously reigned as Francis II, the last Holy Roman Emperor until 1806), an era marked by the consolidation of the newly created Empire of Austria following the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna. The granting of noble diplomas to deserving individuals from the crown lands, such as Hungary and Croatia, also served the political purpose of fostering loyalty within the ethnically diverse monarchy at that time, as local elites were drawn closer to the Imperial House through elevations in status. The elaborate artistic execution of such documents – painted heraldic splendour combined with engraved gold ornamentation – simultaneously reflects the representational ambitions of the Viennese Court Chancery, which upheld the courtly tradition of magnificent acts of grace even in an era of increasing bureaucratisation. The last page bears an authentication signed by the sworn notary Josephum Krajescovics. The last leaf is trimmed (affecting one handwritten addition and two signatures; the Emperor’s signature remains intact). Some finger marks, a few creased corners; otherwise, generally well preserved.
See original version (German)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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