^Lot 340 Pope Leo XIII

Born Count Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci (1810-1903), he was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903, succeeding Pope Pius IX. LS in Latin, signed “Leo pp. XIII,” one page both sides, 9.25 x 12.75, September 7, 1879. Letter to “Our Beloved Son John–Baptist Tarasconi–Modena,” In part (translated): “Greetings and the Apostolic Benediction to our Beloved Son…a new proof of your piety and devotion to Us and the Holy Sea…You brought back happy memories of the past to Us when We were immersed in studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. You have made elegant translations in Latin verse and provided fitting notes…a great contribution to humanist studies, Latin and Greek letters… from Our heart we congratulate you and bestow the Apostolic Benediction on you.” Second integral page bears an address panel in another hand and retains most of the red wax seal. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, some scattered light toning, with a few heavier circular areas of toning from seal, a bit of trivial paper loss along a couple folds, and paper loss to second page from seal.