[Mexico] [Catholic Church] Benedict XIII, Pope. [Broadside] Devotas Oraciones, que Rezaba....

[Mexico] [Catholic Church] Benedict XIII, Pope. [Broadside] Devotas Oraciones, que Rezaba.... [Mexico], c. 1800. Broadside. 8-3/8" x 6-1/8." Prayer on recto only, inside of an ornamental border; verso blank. Remarkable copy with only trivial edgewear and toning to the deckle. This was printed 2 per sheet and trimmed, a portion of the original watermark (a bull) is visible on the cut edge. While there is no imprint, the cataloguer at the John Carter Brown Library identifies this a 19th century Mexican imprint. We have followed suit with confidence, and after a physical inspection of the laid paper, believe this is fairly early-19th century, possibly late 18th.

A prayer by Pope Benedict XIII, asking before death one have a chance for repentance, hence "Para alcanzar de Dios la gracia de no morir de muerte repentina." A wonderful talisman noting before the prayer that those who are unable to read should keep it with them every day and say a Hail Mary: "Los que no supieren leer, las traerán consigo, y rezarán todos los dias una Ave Marie." There is at least one Spanish variant of this, with imprint and dated in 1758, according to OCLC. None of these ephemeral broadsides are common in institutions or in commerce. Not recorded in the standard bibliographies. $200