Ferdinand I, King of Naples (1458-94), document in Latin, signed and dated Castel Nuovo, Naples, 6 June 1470

single sheet, 445x575mm, the lower 62mm folded up, 27 lines of main text, in an elegant humanistic cursive, endorsed by at least three 15th-century and later hands in Italian and Latin, two horizontal and three vertical folds through the text, three more folds affecting only the blank margins, holes for the suspension of a seal (missing), very minor stain and a small marginal hole

The text begins by naming the king and his titles, 'Ferdinandus dei gracia Rex Sicilie Hierusalem et Hungarie …', and goes on to state that it is a prince’s duty to acknowledge legitimate marriage contracts; the present document confirms the rights of 'our faithful and beloved Ludovico de Melioratis de Sulmone, legitimate natural son and heir of Caterina de Riccardi of Ortona [d.1462], formerly wife of the illustrious Pietro Bonifacio de Acquaviva, Duke of Atri and Count of San Flaviano' to his mother’s dower rights, as recorded in a contract dated at Penne, 22 January 1453, quoted here; the present document is dated 'In castellonovo Neapolis … die sexto mensis Junii anno domini Millesimo CCCCLxx, regnorum nostrorum anno terciodecimo' and signed 'Rex Ferd(inandus)'.