Manuscript; Armorial Collection of Illustrious Florentine Families - 1870/1880

Rare study on the armorials of illustrious Florentine families, presumably concerning the drafts of a never published book, undated, but dating back to around 1870-1880. Inside the text are the variations of the coats of arms and the different classifications of the armorials of the Florentine noble families arranged in alphabetical order. The insignia are entirely hand-drawn except for the archbishop's coats of arms that are printed. Noteworthy is the beautiful section that reports the variation of the Medici coat of arms by the will of Louis XI King of France, who granted the opportunity to apply the three lilies of France inside the famous balls. The document contains, divided into 12 paragraphs, a very interesting treatise on the origin of nobility itself and on why over the centuries nobles have received particular advantages, despite the fact that sometimes these alleged virtues were exalted only because they belonged to a certain family. The manuscript does not present itself as a praise to the nobility, but also sometimes highlights its critical aspects by noting that this status is preserved not only for the name, "but for the beautiful actions". It also mentions Julius Caesar for a false genealogical historical action: "too involved in his own nobility he would say he descended from Aeneas”.