Born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto in 1835, Pius X served as pope from 1903 until his death in 1914. Known for his conservative, anti-modernist philosophies, he became, in 1954, the first pope to be elevated to sainthood since Pius V in 1712. Two handwritten endorsements, both in Italian, both signed “Pius pp. X,” both on a 5 x 13.25 off-white sheet bearing several other notations and endorsements, being an incomplete draft by a Portuguese priest who during an audience had presented the Pope with several requests and questions. The first untranslated endorsement is three lines long, followed by the pope’s signature, with the second endorsement being four lines long, and dated 1912. In very good condition, with scattered toning and soiling, several horizontal folds, light wrinkling, and tape repairs to reverse from separation of lower portion of sheet. RRAuction COA.
