Spanish police have recovered a 17th-century manuscript that went missing from Valencia’s College of the Major Art of Silk more than 100 years ago, after it has been seen for sale online for €71,900. Manuscript, containing a 1479 ordinance signed by Ferdinand the Catholic.
The manuscript contains 26 chapters of the ordinances of the Gremme de Velours, or velvet guild, as well as the statutes of the Brotherhood of San Jerónimo, founded in 1483. The manuscript presents 26 chapters that include both the ordinances of the Gremmie de Velluters, a velvet guild, and the statutes of the Brotherhood of San Jerónimo that was founded in 1483.
This manuscript is written on green vellum and bound in green velvet with bronze fittings. This emphasizes the importance that society gave to the production of velvet in the 15th century.
The Heritage Group of the National Police Unit of Valencia found the manuscript during their surveillance activities related to the sale of cultural products on the Internet. The seller stated that he did not know the source of the manuscript and said that his father had purchased it in the 1970s.
The manuscript will remain with the current owner but will be registered in the Heritage Register of Valencian Culture. Conservation standards will be maintained before its return. The document will be temporarily deposited in the Archive of the Kingdom of Valencia for examination by personnel of the Department of Culture.
Valencia’s leading silk art college holds the oldest guild collection in Europe, including 15th-century documents on masters, apprentices and inspections of factories.
