Medici – 1524 – Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) – Renaissance Italy.

Medici – 1524 – Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) – Renaissance Italy

Guido de’ Medici (c. early 16th century)

Autograph Letter Signed (ALS), Rome, 21 August 1524

A rare original autograph letter signed by Guido de’ Medici, a member of the distinguished Florentine Medici family, written in Rome and dated 21 August 1524.

Manuscript in Italian, written in dark iron-gall ink on laid paper, measuring approximately 29 x 21 cm. The letter is addressed to Roberto de Beccutis (“avunculo meo”), and concerns financial matters, specifically urging the settlement of payments owed, including references to ecclesiastical revenues and the church of Santo Apollinare.

The document provides a valuable insight into the administrative and financial dealings of a lesser-known branch of the Medici family during the early 16th century, reflecting the broader economic and ecclesiastical networks of Renaissance Italy.

Signed at the lower section: “Guido de Medici”.

Condition:

Overall good for its age (over 500 years old). Visible folds from historical storage, minor staining and foxing, some ink fading, but the text and signature remain clearly legible. No major losses.

Provenance:

Comparable examples of letters by Guido de’ Medici have appeared at European auctions (e.g., Rome, 2025).

Historical significance:

While not from the principal ruling line, Guido de’ Medici belonged to the extended Medici family, one of the most influential dynasties of Renaissance Florence, known for its role in banking, politics, and patronage of the arts.

A genuine Renaissance autograph with strong historical context, ideal for collectors of early manuscripts, Medici history, and Italian Renaissance documents.