Medieval Notary Manuscripts & Law Books

EXCESSIVELY SCARCE LAW ON THE HUNTING IN SWEDEN
ONLY ANOTHER COPY KNOWN

SWEDEN GOVERNMENT.Kongl. may.tz Ordningh och Stadga, Om Jachter, Diurefång och Fogelskiutande, Giord och förbättrat på Rijkzdagen som höltz i Stockholm åhr 1664. Tryckt i Stockholm, af Ignatio Meurer, kongl. booktr. åhr 1664 (Stockholm: Ignatius Meurer, 1664).

4to, later colored paperboards, pp. [12].
Fine woodcut device at title-page with the royal coat of arms. Printed in Gothic type.

Excessively scarce publication of Sweden Government (dated 19 August 1669 and signed by the Queen Hedwig Eleonora) on hunting regulation in Sweden and Finland.

Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp (23 October 1636 – 24 November 1715) was Queen of Sweden from 1654 until 1660. She was the wife of Charles X Gustav of Sweden and mother of Charles XI. She served as regent during the minority of her son from 1660 until 1672, and during the minority of her grandson Charles XII in 1697. She also represented Charles XII during his absence in the Great Northern War from 1700 until the regency of her granddaughter Ulrika Eleonora in 1713. Hedwig Eleonora was described as a dominant personality and was regarded as the de facto first lady of the royal court for 61 years, from 1654 until her death.

References: OCLC 185352453 (only the copy at National Library of Sweden).

HUTH'S COMMENTARY ON DECRETALS
NOT IN USA

HUTH, ADAM. Ius Canonicum Ad Libros V. Decretalium Gregorii IX : Explicatum Et Per Quaestiones Ac Responsa In Methodum Brevem Et Claram Redactum. 5, ... De Delictis et Poenis Authore R. P. Adamo Huth e Societatum Jesu, Ss. Canonum Doctore, eormque in Alma Electorali Universitate Heidelbergensi Professore Publico et Ordinario. Augustae Vindelicorum, Sumptibus Mathiae Wollf, 1738 (Augsburg: Wollf, 1738).

8vo, contemporary stiff vellum, red edges.
Xylographic frontispiece.

Good German edition of Huth's commentary on the five books of Pope Gregory IX's Decretals.

Reference: OCLC locates 18 copies worldwide, but no copy in USA.

FIRST EDITION OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH COUNCILS

IACOBAZZI, DOMENICO. Reuerendiss. in Christo patris d. Dominici card. Iacobatii De concilio tractatus. Romae, excudebat Antonius Bladus, mense Octobri anno 1538.

A thick folio (295x196), late 17th century stiff vellum binding with five raised bands, lable and gilt-lettered title, sprinkled edges, pp. [40], 783, [1].
Sumptuous xylographic title-page, numerous head-letters (some with criblé background.

First edition of this exhaustive treatise on the History of Catholic Church Councils.

Domenico Iacobazzi or Giacobazzi (1444–1528) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal, scholar of Christian theology, civil and canon law. He participated in the Fifth Council of the Lateran and became the pope's vicar general. Pope Leo X made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of July 1517. He participated in both the papal conclave of 1521-22 that elected Pope Adrian VI, and in the papal conclave of 1523 that elected Pope Clement VII. In 1524, he became Bishop of Nocera dei Pagani.

References: Fumagalli, 46: «Bell' edizione». OCLC 66082678.

POPE INNOCENTIUS IV'S COMMENTARY ON DECRETALS: A MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF CANON LAW

INNOCENTIUS IV, Pope. Innocentii IIII pont. max. In quinque libros decretalium, necnon in decretales per eundem Innocentium editas, quae modo in sexto earundem volumine sunt insertae, & in huius operis elencho, vt cunctis pateant adnotatae, commentaria doctissima. Cum Pauli Roselli, adnotationibus, et loco indicis, Baldi Margarita. Nunc vero diligentiori quam antea studio recognita, ab innumerisque erroribus, ex omnibus quae inueniri statuere, voluminibus hactenus excusis integritati suae restituta. Summas etiam rerum notabilium quam plurimis in locis vbi deerant adijci curauimus. Additis insuper vita eiusdem auctoris, ac nouo indice ita locupleti, vt nil amplius desiderari posse, certo sciant omnes. Venetiis, apud Iuntas, 1578.

Large folio volume, contemporary stiff vellum, handwritten titles on spine, ff. [24], 236, [32].
Title page with large-size printer’s device, woodcut head-letters, text on two columns.

Pope Innocentius IV’s famous commentary to the Gregorius IX’s decretals —here in a gorgeous edition of late 16th century: a milestone in the history of medieval canon law.

Sinibaldo Fieschi, later pope Innocentius IV (1243-1254), was born in Genoa before 1200. Brilliant scholar in Bologna, of renowned canonists as Laurentius Hispanus, Johannes Teutonicus, Jacobus de Albenga and Vincentius Hispanus as well as civil lawyers as Azo, Jacobus Balduinus and Accursius., after teaching canon law in the same university, soon became one of the most respected jurists in the Roman curia. Appointed, since 1226 Auditor of Audientia litterarum contradictarum, was created cardinal by Pope Gregory IX in 1127, and then elected pope in 1243, after the death of Celestine IV. His pontificate was not easy, marked, among other things, by the deposition of the Emperor Frederick II at the Council of Lyons in 1254.

References: CNCE 28474. OCLC 797733908.

VERY SCARCE COPY PRINTED ON VELLUM
THE COPY QUOTED BY BRUNET, WITH CARDINAL ORSINI’S SIGNATURE

PIUS V (POPE). EXTENSIO, AMPLIATIO | NOVA CONCESSIO, ET CON- | FIRMATIO PRIVILEGIORVM | SANCTISS. AC BEATISS. D. D. PII | HVIVS NOMINIS V. | PONT. MAX. | IN SACROS ORDINES, ET | CONGREGATIONES CLAUSTRALES. | PRO CANONICIS REGVLARIBVS | ORDINIS S. AUGUSTINI CONGREGATIONIS | DOMINI SALUATORIS. | R O M AE | APUD HAEREDES ANTONIJ BLADI IMPRESSORES CAMERALES. | M. D. LXVII. [Rome, Heirs of Antonio Blado, Cameral Printers, 1567].

4to (226x154 mm), blue morocco modern binding within a box in the same material, gilt frame to covers, five raised bands spine with decorations and letterings printed in gold, ff. [12].

At title-page, woodcut printer’s device with the Christus Salvator Mundi, full-page xylography at verso of title-page representing St. Augustin in episcopal dress and, by his feet, the arms of Pius V. Woodcut initials.

Very scarce copy printed on vellum, with the signature of Cardinal Flavio Orsini and the countersignature of the notary Matteo Boccarini: this is the copy quoted by Brunet in his Trèsor and, afterwards, by Graesse, both recording the presence of this copy on the antiquarian market around the middle of the 19th century.

The book deals with the confirmation and extension of the privileges bestowed by the Pope to the Regular Canons of the Congregation of the Holy Saviour in Lateran, best known as St. John in Lateran. On the 3rd of March of 1566, Pius V appointed Flavio Orsini dean of the Congregation of the Regular Canons of St. Augustin of the Holy Saviour: the original document is stored in the «Archivio Storico Capitolino».

Provenance: Presumably the copy made for the Pope himself, as proven by the use of vellum as printing basis. At verso of the last leaf, official signature Fra: Car.lis Urs.s with countersignature of the notary M. Boccarinus ca: ap: not(aius): he should be Matteo Boccarini from Amelia (near Terni), very close to the Orsini family. Boccarini himself was the notary that wrote the wedding contracts between Federico Sforza of St. Fiora and Beatrice Orsini, to whom Flavio Orsini let a dowry of 22000 scutes (Archivio Orsini, in «Archivio Storico Capitolino», II.A.26,003).

Census: No copy on vellum in Censimento. Also the paper copies are scarce, only 5 copies located in Italian public libraries: Bologna U; Reggio Emilia, Biblioteca Panizzi; Reggio Emilia, Archivio di Stato; Roma, N; Roma, Biblioteca Angelica. There seems to be no copy (unaccountably) at the Vatican Library.

References: The copy quoted by Brunet (IV, 681): «Un exemplaire imprimé sur VÉLIN, accompagné de la confirmation desdits priviléges, par le cardinal Orsini, en manuscrit. 2 liv. 16 sh. Libri, en 1859». Graesse, V, 307: «Il ne existe un ex. tiré sur vélin (15 fr. Mac-Carthy. 2 l. 16 sh. Libri)». For the original manuscript of this work see in «Archivio Storico Capitolino» (Archivio Orsini, II.A.26,005).

THE DEFINITIVE EDITION OF THE COLLECTED SENTENCES OF FLORENCE AND LUCCA TRIBUNALS

Magonio, Girolamo. Decisiones causarum tam Rotae Florentinae, quam Rotae Lucensis. Omnibus legum professoribus, ac in foro versantibus perutiles & necessariae. Nunc primum in lucem editae. Cum indicibus locupletissimis.Venetiis, apud Sessas, 1605.

2 parts in a folio volume (325x220 mm), near contemporary vellum binding with handwritten title on four raised bands spine, pp. [56], 346, [70], 263, [1].
The first title-page printed in red and black; thext on two columns, numerous woodcut headletters.

Definitive edition of the collected sentences of Florence and Lucca Courts:it is the reprint of Sessa 1597 edition with the same commentary of the renowned jurist from Orvieto, but enlarged with a conspicuous index.

References: OCLC 14119171.

THE MOST COMPLETE EDITION OF THE STATUTES OF THE REPUBLIC OF VENICE, IN WHICH ARE COLLECTED THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS FROM THE ELEVENTH CENTURY UNTIL THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

[1.]: Novissimum statutorum ac Venetarum legum volumen, duabus in partibus divisum, Aloysio Mocenigo Venetiarum principi dicatum. Venetiis: ex typographia ducali Pinelliana, 1729.
[bound together with:]
[2.]: Leggi criminali del serenissimo dominio Veneto in un solo volume raccolte, e per pubblico decreto ristampate. [Venezia]: Presso li figliuoli del qu: Gio: Antonio Pinelli Stampatori Ducali, 1751.

4to (240x180 mm), half vellum binding with corners, marbled paper at boards, gilt title on a red leather label at spine. Text in Latin and Italian.

[1.]: Leaves [13], 302 leaves, pp. 115, [1]. Printer's device at title-page (in a figured frame a woman, representing the Justice, with a sword in the right hand and a scale in the left, sitting on two lions).
Xylographic image at frontispiece representing the Lion of Saint Mark, holding the paw on the book of the Gospel opened with the words: Pax tibi Marce Evangelista meus. Another xylographic image representing the Lion of Saint Mark at leaf A1r.
Xylographic initials. Title at false title-page: Novissima Veneta statuta.

Important collection of Venetian statutes comprising the first five books of the Doge Giacomo Tiepolo and the sixth of the Doge Andrea Dandolo, the statutes of the judges of the petition formed the year 1244, the ancient laws under the title of Consulta, the Law Pisana issued on 1492, the practice of the Palace of Venice, the corrections of the Doges Barbarigo Loredan, Grimani, Gritti, Trevisan, Cicogna, Memo, Bembo, Priuli, Francesco Contarini, Erizzo, Carlo Contarini, Domenico Contarini and Alvise Contarini.

[2.]: Leaves 233, [1]. Xylographic image representing the Lion of Saint Mark at title-page. Other xylographic image representing the Lion of Saint Mark at leaf A1r.

Original edition of this collection of the criminal laws of the Republic of Venice.

Provenance: Private library of a Verona noble family, whose roots are in Mantua and in which there were distinguished lawyers and jurists.

References:
[1.]: IT\ICCU\VIAE\012929. OCLC, 691918 and 632085449.
[2.]: IT\ICCU\PUVE\003798. OCLC, 14136575.

VERY SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF MASCARDI'S COMMENTARY ON FERRARA STATUTES
APPARENTLY NO COPIES IN USA

Mascardi, Alderano. Commvnes i. v. conclvsiones ad generalem Quorumcumq, Statutorum interpretationem accommodatæ ac omnibus tam in iudicando, quam in consulendo, & alijs in foro versantibus perutiles, ac necessarie: cum suis ampliationibus, & limitationibus magis à doctoribus receptis; summarijs vnicuique conclusioni adiectis, & indice rerum, ac sententiarum locupletiss. Illustriss. et reuerendiss. D.D. Benedicto S.R.E. presbytero cardinali Iustiniano Bononiae legato, &c [...]. Ferrariae, Apud Victorium Baldinum Typographum Cameralem, 1608.

Folio (294x205 mm), full vellum binding, handwritten title at three raised bands spine, pp. [52], 414, [2, last blank]. Titlepage printed in red and black, with Cardinal coat of arms, xylographic headletters and decorations at preliminary pages.

Very scarce first edition of Mascardi's commentary on Ferrara Statutes.

Alderano Mascardi (1557-1607) was a jurist, brother of the more famous Giuseppe. He spent his career working on criminal and civil trials in Tuscan and Emilia, under the Doria family of Genoa, that supported him to become auditor for the Rota of Lucca, where he worked from 1602 to 1604, and for the Rota of Bologna, from 1604 to his death. The Conclusiones contained in this volume come from his activity as auditor, and are a representation of the Statutes of Ferrara based on custom. The subjects are organized by argument, and each detailed discussion is preceded by a general summary.

Provenance: Twinge handwritten annotations at external margin of p. 263.

References: Fontana, pars I, col. 633. Sapori, I, 1816 (imperfect). No copies in USA (OCLC 79045898 for the edition printed in Turin). Fontana, pars I, col. 633. Sapori, I, 1816 quotes only an incomplete copy.

FIRST EDITION OF GIBERTI'S COLLECTED WORKS, CONTAINING THE FAMOUS CONSTITUTIONES GIBERTINAE

Giberti, Matteo.Opera nunc primum collecta, et ineditis ejusdem opusculis aucta ... auctoris vita, dissertatione, variisque monumentis illustrata [by Petrus and Hieronymus Ballerinius]. et sub auspiciis illustrissimi ac reverendissimi Joannis Bragadeni Veronae episcopi edita. Veronae: Ex typographia Petri Antonii Berni, 1733.

Small folio, 19th century half calf, pp. [16], civ, 356.
One engraved plate with the bishop Giberti at the beginning of the Constitutions.
The Appendix contains: P.F. Zini Boni pastoris exemplum, ac specimen singulare ex I.M.G. ... expressum, atque propositum; A. Castiglionei orationem funebrem Italicam de ipsius Giberti laudibus: A. Fumani alteram Latinam funebrem laudationem, etc.
Title vignette; head- and tail-pieces, initials.
Most text in Latin, with some in Italian.

First edition of Giberti's Collected Works, edited by the philologists Pietro and Girolamo Ballerini, also containing the Constitutiones Gibertinae, both in Latin and Italian version.

Gian Matteo Giberti (1495–1543) was an Italian diplomat, Bishop of Verona.
Giberti was chosen a member of the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia, the reform committee decreed by the Fifth Lateran Council, but political events soon put an end to these labours. At Pavia (1525) he tried to make peace between Francis I of France and Charles V. It was at his prompting that Clement VII espoused the cause of France; the League of Cognac (22 May 1526) was also his work.
After the Sack of Rome (1527) he was put in prison and barely escaped death. He succeeded in making his escape, and went to Verona (1528) intending to devote himself to his diocese. He was done with politics, all the more because the pope had gone over to the imperial cause. However, he appeared from time to time in the Curia. Pope Paul III recalled him to Rome for the work of the Reform Committee; among other missions he was sent to Trent to make preparations for the council.
His efforts to reform his diocese, whose clergy were in a deplorable state, were crowned with success. The Tridentine reforms were put in force long before the council assembled. St. Charles Borromeo, before taking charge of his see at Milan, wished to study Giberti's system at Verona, and chose as his vicar-general a priest from Verona trained in Giberti's school.
His first aim was to improve the standard of ecclesiastical knowledge. In his own palace he set up a printing-press which turned out numerous editions of the Greek Fathers, in whose writings he was very learned. He reformed the choir-school of Verona; for the instruction of the young he had printed the catechism known as Dialogus, the work of Tullio Crispoldi (1539).

SECOND EDITION OF GIBERTI'S COLLECTED WORKS, CONTAINING THE FAMOUS CONSTITUTIONES GIBERTINAE

Giberti, Matteo.Opera nunc primum collecta, et ineditis ejusdem opusculis aucta ... auctoris vita, dissertatione, variisque monumentis illustrata [by Petrus and Hieronymus Ballerinius]. Hostiliae (Ostiglia), Apud A. Carattonium, 1740..

Small folio, contemporary stiff vellum, pp. 349.
One engraved plate with the bishop Giberti at the beginning of the Constitutions.
The Appendix contains: P.F. Zini Boni pastoris exemplum, ac specimen singulare ex I.M.G. ... expressum, atque propositum; A. Castiglionei orationem funebrem Italicam de ipsius Giberti laudibus: A. Fumani alteram Latinam funebrem laudationem, etc.
Title vignette; head- and tail-pieces, initials.
Most text in Latin, with some in Italian.

Second edition of Giberti's Collected Works, edited by the philologists Pietro and Girolamo Ballerini, also containing the Constitutiones Gibertinae, both in Latin and Italian version.

Gian Matteo Giberti (1495–1543) was an Italian diplomat, Bishop of Verona.
Giberti was chosen a member of the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia, the reform committee decreed by the Fifth Lateran Council, but political events soon put an end to these labours. At Pavia (1525) he tried to make peace between Francis I of France and Charles V. It was at his prompting that Clement VII espoused the cause of France; the League of Cognac (22 May 1526) was also his work.
After the Sack of Rome (1527) he was put in prison and barely escaped death. He succeeded in making his escape, and went to Verona (1528) intending to devote himself to his diocese. He was done with politics, all the more because the pope had gone over to the imperial cause. However, he appeared from time to time in the Curia. Pope Paul III recalled him to Rome for the work of the Reform Committee; among other missions he was sent to Trent to make preparations for the council.
His efforts to reform his diocese, whose clergy were in a deplorable state, were crowned with success. The Tridentine reforms were put in force long before the council assembled. St. Charles Borromeo, before taking charge of his see at Milan, wished to study Giberti's system at Verona, and chose as his vicar-general a priest from Verona trained in Giberti's school.
His first aim was to improve the standard of ecclesiastical knowledge. In his own palace he set up a printing-press which turned out numerous editions of the Greek Fathers, in whose writings he was very learned. He reformed the choir-school of Verona; for the instruction of the young he had printed the catechism known as Dialogus, the work of Tullio Crispoldi (1539).
At Verona, moreover, he gathered around him a group of learned men to assist him in his efforts at reform.

RARE FIRST EDITION OF MARESCOTTI'S REPERTORY OF LAWSUITS
ONLY ONE COPY IN USA

Marescotti, Ercole. Variarum Resolutionum, Liber Primus, & Secundus. Inquibus selectiores Utriusque iuris materiae tam beneficiales, quam prophanae, quae apud omnia tribunalia frequentius in disputationem veniunt; necnon dubia, & quaestiones, [...] adducuntur [...]. Romae, Ex Typographia, & Sumptibus Aegydii Spadae, 1614.

Two volumes bound together, folio (313x215 mm), vellum binding with handwritten titles at spine, boards enriched by handcolored paper, edges sprayed in red and blue ink, ff. [20], 224, [4], 307, [145]. Titlepages printed in red and black, xylographic Cardinals coat of arms, typographical small hands at margins, xylographical decorations and headletters along the volume, text on two columns.

Scarce first edition of Resolutiones by Marescotti, that provides jurists, magistrates and students with a collection of real cases from Inheritance Law to Emphyteusis, from Commercial to Civil Law.

Ercole Marescotti (m. 1621) was a famous Italian jurisconsultant, belonging to an old noble family from Bologna.

Provenance: at titlepages sepia ink handwritten ownership signatures, Ex Libris de Vincentij de Ravanis I.C. beside the coat of arms.

Bibliography: Fontana, pars I, col. 621. Not in Sapori, that only mentions the Venetian edition of 1625 (I, 1784), the only Marescotti’s work present in the catalogue. OCLC 427998602 locates in USA only the copy at University of Michigan Law Library.

SECOND EDITION OF THE DECREES OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS

Various Authors (Jesuit Fathers). Decreta congregationum generalium Societatis Iesu. Secunda editio. Rome: in Collegio Romano eiusdem Societatis, 1616.

Large 8vo, 18th century calf (spine restored), blue edges, pp. [8], 560, [32].
Title within ornamental woodcut border. Xylographic device with the monogram of the Society of Jesus at title-page. Woodcut head- and tailpieces, woodcut initials. Printed marginal notes.

Second edition of the Jesuits Decrees (first printed in 1615), contains decrees of the first seven General Congregations, wanted by the of Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Claudio Aquaviva.

The edition was printed by the typography of the Roman College of the Jesuits.

References: Backer & Sommervogel, V, 96. IT\ICCU\UM1E\003237. OCLC, 38167643 (four copies in USA).