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Posted 9 years ago
southjerse…
(74 items)
1758 Early pre-philatelic stampless cover. I believe this is Italian but I'm not sure. Very nice postmark I had no idea they used these so early. Can anyone figure out the address?
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Cool! Yes, it's Italian indeed and doesn't seem that hard to read. Dated August, 1788 in Bergamo and adressed to, just a guess, Sgt James - - - at Audibori Nova, Venezia i.e. Venice. Not knowing Italian really but the beginning reads "In esecuzione delle lettere di... (In execution of this letter the xx day of...) A few names there to research as well; Pellegrino Masseroni, Pietro Antonio Mazzoleni, Fratelli Regazzoni (The Regazzoni brothers), Franco Colleoni.
How did you get this letter? Really cool! Some more names I'm guessing; Laura Magni, wife of Pellegrino Masseroni. Domenico Vegis, Antonio and ??? Bernardo.
I googled the names, there was a mayor or some other official of Bergamo at that time, called Pietro Antonio Mazzoleni appearing on court documents as well as a prominent man called Domenico Vegis. This letter could be of historic significance! At that time Bergamo belonged to the Republic of Venice, which later was incorporated with Austria before finally becoming Italy in the 1860's.
The plot thickens, The address is "Auditori Novi" which seems to have been the Civil Court of Venice at the time. So probably not a coincidence that Mazzoleni is mentioned in your letter as well as in other court documents.
very very interesting !!! something like this is well to looked at by an expert!!
GREAT JOB OLOFZ !!!!!!
Can I give a transcription of what I see .... although it is incomplete:
"In esecuzione delle lettere di V.S.El del giorno 24 luglio …… con esse di istanza della signora Laura Magni moglie del Pellegrino Mascheroni ho fatto sotto li …… a comparir avanti l’El.V.S. e l’ufficio loro …. Domenico Vegis, Pietro Antonio Mazzoleni, …. Bernardo Fratelli Regazzoni et Francesco Colleoni per il decimo giorno a veder di essere confermate le lettere del El.V.S. della giorni 15 Marzo 17 Aprile r.r.detto et 20 maggio
The abbreviations are fairly standard ..... something like "Your Excellencies" --- Vostra Serena Eccellenza .
I just have a slightly different reading of a couple of the names and perhaps OLOFZ might have a look at my versions. The names are important figures in the history of Bergamo as OLOFZ has already noted.
........... agosto 1788"
That should read : "delli giorni 15 Marzo 17 Aprile r.r.detto et 20 maggio ."
There are differences with modern Standard Italian that are consistent with regional variations.
It looks to be mostly 'legalese' and is beautifully written in a very florid hand.
Thanks vetraio, indeed a significant find! and thanks for the transcription. You're right, should rather be Pellegrino Mascheroni, and Francesco (Colleoni) has been abbreviated to Fran-co. The fact that it doesn't seem to be personally signed makes it more of an official document rather than a letter, don't you think?
Southjerseybob, thanks for posting! Perhaps email a copy to andrea.pelizza@beniculturali.it , archivist at Venice responsible for the Auditori Novi historical archives. I'm sure he would be as thrilled as we! http://www.archiviodistatovenezia.it/siasve/cgi-bin/pagina.pl?Tipo=fondo&Chiave=92&Lingua=en
I have sent some of the pictures I took to the above email. I'm delighted that people think this letter is historic!
What did you find out Bob?
Nothing new
Hi Bob, geat cover! Unfortunately the postmark is FAKE...