MARIE-THÉRÈSE OF AUSTRIA (1638–1683) Queen of France; Infanta of Spain, daughter of Philip IV and Elizabeth of France, wife (1660) of Louis XIV. Autograph letter signed “Maria Teressa,” Saint-Germain-en-Laye, March 29, 1679, to Gaspar Méndez de Haro, Marquis del Carpio; ¾ page folio, envelope with red wax seal bearing the coat of arms; in Spanish. A beautiful and rare letter to the Spanish ambassador in Rome, expressing delight at the terms of the treaty concluded between France and Spain following the Dutch War and the Peace of Nijmegen (the final outcome of which was Charles II’s relinquishment of the County of Franche-Comté and numerous strongholds to France). I have received your letter “in which you give me the good news of the peace concluded between this crown and that of Spain, news that I received with the joy you can imagine, having no doubt as to your loyalty as a good servant who has taken satisfaction in this good news; for my part, I can tell you how much I value this good news, for to me there is no greater pleasure than to see these two crowns united; I must be very pleased to assure you that I hold you in my memory—first for who you are, and second as your father’s son. Believe that you will always find me ready for whatever is proposed to you; that I will serve you with the utmost goodwill, being certain that you will obey me very punctually in whateverI may come to command you, for I am entirely confident in your loyal devotion"... Formerly in the Félix-Sébastien Feuillet de Conches collection (April 26–29, 1875, no. 503); subsequently in the Femmes de Claude de Flers collection (November 18–19, 2014, no. 167).