ALBERT VII: (1559-1621) Archduke of Austria. The shortest reign in Austrian history. Former Cardinal, Albert was Archbishop of Toledo and Viceroy of Portugal. A Good L.S., `Albert´, one page, 4to, Valencia, May 1599, to Cardinal Visconte, in Spanish. Albert congratulates his correspondent for his appointment as Cardinal, expressing his joy for such new and stating in part `..Con la carta en que me avisa de la acertada elección que se ha hecho de su persona para el Sacro Colegio de Cardenales me ha alegrado mucho, por lo que entiendo que la iglesia de Dios interesa en tener en ese lugar una persona como la suya..´ Albert, a former Cardinal himself, had formally resigned from the College of Cardinals only few months earlier. With address leaf, bearing a paper seal affixed, with corner clipped. Small overall age wear and minor staining, otherwise G

Albert VII married the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain, daughter of Philip II King of Spain, one of the most powerful women of her time, on 18th April 1599 in Valencia. The present letter is written shortly after the marriage, still in Valencia, during the short time he remained in this Spanish city.