[HAVANA]. [ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF CALATRAVA, CASTILLE]. [Handwritten copy of a letter from Isabel II, Queen of Spain, concerning the admission of Don Pedro Regalado Pedroso y Pedroso into the Order]

Madrid, 1846. Good. Single leaf. Small tears along edges, small stains from ink bleeding through both sides, bookseller subject inscription "America" noted at top left corner of recto, slight water damage along right edge, vertical fold in middle of leaf, clearly town torn out of a larger gathering. THE ORDER OF CALATRAVA IS A MILITARY AND CISTERCIAN RELIGIOUS ORDER, ESTABLISHED IN THE 12TH CENTURY IN THE KINGDOM OF CASTILLE. Its primary purpose was to protect the town of Calatrava. The order was eventually secularized in 1855 and is now solely an honorific institution.

The present document is a handwritten copy of a notification from Dona Isabel II, Queen of Spain, regarding a habit [i.e. the granting of admission] into the Order of the Knights of Calatrava, on behalf of Don Pedro Regalado Pedroso y Pedroso. The letter is addressed to Don Esteban Hurtado de Mendoza, who had been named by the Tribune of [Military] Orders to occupy said position.

DON PEDRO REGALADO PEDROSO Y PEDROSO (1832-1878) descended from an extremely wealthy Havana family; he was accepted as a Novice into the Order in 1849 and as of 1862 he was still a novice (Las Ordenes Militares de Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara y Montesa, Madrid, 1862, p. 444, and the same work, 1891 edition, p. 63). He was Prefect (Comendador) of the Order of Carlos III. His great residence at Calle Obrapia No. 55, Havana, is named after him and is known as the Hotel El Comendador and is one of the jewels of Old Town.

PARTIAL TRANSLATION:

"Dona Isabel II, by the grace of God and the constitution of the Spanish monarchy, queen of Spain, perpetual administrator of the Order of the Knights of Calavera, by apostolic authority to you, Don Domingo Olaraval or Don Esteban Hurtado de Mendoza, knights of Santiago who have been named by the master tribunal by imperial commission to the order to that which [...] will be mentioned, know this: that Don Pedro Regalado Pedroso y Pedroso, citizen of the city of Havana, has found favor in our Royal Person with the grace of a habit [or position] in the Order of Calatrava [etc.]  

CATALOGUER'S NOTE: As always we are grateful to Joseph Adams for his translation prowess! (Inventory #: 3472)