Book

TitleReport of Dr. Blas González de Ribero to King Philip IV

Accession Number2005.001.0007

Date1627

DescriptionNúñez Melián sent this petition to the crown, impelled by the claims of the owners of some of the silver bars he sent back to Spain from the salvage of the sunken 1622 galleon Santa Margarita. This rare, printed petition from ca.1630, outlines the services of Francisco Núñez Melián in the recovery of the sunken 1622 galleon Santa Margarita. The 14-page document was written by Dr. Blas González de Ribero, Núñez’ attorney, and it gives a good description of the techniques used by Núñez’ crew, especially their use of a bronze diving bell. Ultimately, to stress the expedition’s merit, the petition outlines Núñez’ success and that he recovered “350 silver bars, 74,700 pesos in reales, and 8 pieces of bronze artillery,” from the wreck.

It is understood that only one other copy of this rare, printed petition is extant, at the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid.