Joseph I, Roman Emperor — Signed Imperial Passport with Great Seal, 1708
A Habsburg Safe-Conduct for an Imperial Count During the War of the Spanish Succession
An imposing original Latin manuscript signed by Joseph I, Roman Emperor, issued at Vienna on February 11, 1708. The document grants an imperial passport and safe-conduct to Hubertus, Count Stampa, a trusted imperial councillor and chamberlain, for a journey into Italy with his family, servants and possessions.
Joseph I commands the princes, ecclesiastical and secular authorities, military officers and other officials throughout his dominions to receive Count Stampa favorably; allow him and his party to pass freely, promptly and without hindrance; protect them upon the public roads; and provide whatever assistance, security and horses might be required during their journey.
The document was issued during the War of the Spanish Succession, when travel across Habsburg territory and northern Italy could be hazardous and politically sensitive. Such an imperial passport represented more than permission to travel: it placed the bearer and his household under the express protection of the emperor.
The manuscript opens with Joseph I’s elaborate Latin titles:
“Joseph, by Divine Favor Elected Emperor of the Romans, Ever August, and King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia; Archduke of Austria…”
Signed “Josephus” by Joseph I at lower left and countersigned by senior imperial officials, including Johann Friedrich, Baron von Seilern and Aspang, Austrian court chancellor and one of the principal ministers of the Habsburg monarchy.
At the center is a large paper-covered wax seal bearing a particularly strong impression of the Habsburg imperial arms, including the double-headed eagle. Two additional seal impressions or remnants flank the central seal.
Joseph I was the eldest son of Emperor Leopold I and ruled the Habsburg monarchy from 1705 until his premature death from smallpox in 1711, at only 32 years of age. His brief reign occurred almost entirely during the War of the Spanish Succession. Because he ruled for only six years, documents signed by Joseph I are considerably scarcer than those of many other Habsburg emperors.
Distinguished Nineteenth-Century Provenance
The reverse bears the collection stamp of Damiano Muoni (1820–1894), the noted Milanese historian, archivist, numismatist and collector of manuscripts and autographs:
“Damiano Muoni — Books, Drawings, Prints, Portraits, Parchments, Manuscripts, Autographs.”
Muoni worked at the State Archives of Milan and published an important catalogue of his extensive autograph collection in 1858–59. His stamp establishes the document’s presence in a recognized European manuscript collection during the nineteenth century.
Condition
Very good overall for a large, 318-year-old imperial manuscript. The sheet retains strong, dark manuscript writing and an impressive large imperial seal impression. Expected original folding, scattered toning, foxing and handling marks are present. There are areas of wax staining surrounding the seals, minor separations or weakness at fold intersections, and losses to two secondary seal impressions. The principal text, imperial signature and major central seal remain clearly visible. The reverse exhibits period docketing, the Damiano Muoni collection stamp and a visible heraldic watermark.
An impressive Habsburg state document combining an imperial autograph, large heraldic seal, European travel history, War of the Spanish Succession context and distinguished nineteenth-century provenance.
A Habsburg Safe-Conduct for an Imperial Count During the War of the Spanish Succession
An imposing original Latin manuscript signed by Joseph I, Roman Emperor, issued at Vienna on February 11, 1708. The document grants an imperial passport and safe-conduct to Hubertus, Count Stampa, a trusted imperial councillor and chamberlain, for a journey into Italy with his family, servants and possessions.
Joseph I commands the princes, ecclesiastical and secular authorities, military officers and other officials throughout his dominions to receive Count Stampa favorably; allow him and his party to pass freely, promptly and without hindrance; protect them upon the public roads; and provide whatever assistance, security and horses might be required during their journey.
The document was issued during the War of the Spanish Succession, when travel across Habsburg territory and northern Italy could be hazardous and politically sensitive. Such an imperial passport represented more than permission to travel: it placed the bearer and his household under the express protection of the emperor.
The manuscript opens with Joseph I’s elaborate Latin titles:
“Joseph, by Divine Favor Elected Emperor of the Romans, Ever August, and King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia; Archduke of Austria…”
Signed “Josephus” by Joseph I at lower left and countersigned by senior imperial officials, including Johann Friedrich, Baron von Seilern and Aspang, Austrian court chancellor and one of the principal ministers of the Habsburg monarchy.
At the center is a large paper-covered wax seal bearing a particularly strong impression of the Habsburg imperial arms, including the double-headed eagle. Two additional seal impressions or remnants flank the central seal.
Joseph I was the eldest son of Emperor Leopold I and ruled the Habsburg monarchy from 1705 until his premature death from smallpox in 1711, at only 32 years of age. His brief reign occurred almost entirely during the War of the Spanish Succession. Because he ruled for only six years, documents signed by Joseph I are considerably scarcer than those of many other Habsburg emperors.
Distinguished Nineteenth-Century Provenance
The reverse bears the collection stamp of Damiano Muoni (1820–1894), the noted Milanese historian, archivist, numismatist and collector of manuscripts and autographs:
“Damiano Muoni — Books, Drawings, Prints, Portraits, Parchments, Manuscripts, Autographs.”
Muoni worked at the State Archives of Milan and published an important catalogue of his extensive autograph collection in 1858–59. His stamp establishes the document’s presence in a recognized European manuscript collection during the nineteenth century.
Condition
Very good overall for a large, 318-year-old imperial manuscript. The sheet retains strong, dark manuscript writing and an impressive large imperial seal impression. Expected original folding, scattered toning, foxing and handling marks are present. There are areas of wax staining surrounding the seals, minor separations or weakness at fold intersections, and losses to two secondary seal impressions. The principal text, imperial signature and major central seal remain clearly visible. The reverse exhibits period docketing, the Damiano Muoni collection stamp and a visible heraldic watermark.
An impressive Habsburg state document combining an imperial autograph, large heraldic seal, European travel history, War of the Spanish Succession context and distinguished nineteenth-century provenance.
