Medieval Notary Manuscripts & Law Books

FIRST EDITION ISSUED IN KOLN OF AN IMPORTANT JUS-CRIMINALIST COMMENTARY BY ANTONIUS MATTHEUS ON BOOKS 47 AND 48 OF JUSTINIAN'S DIGEST, WITH AN ADDITIONAL TREATISE ON THE MUNICIPAL LAW OF UTRECHT

Mattei, Antonio. Antonii Matthæi, jc. [...] Commentarius ad lib. XLVII. et XLVIII. Dig. De criminibus. Adjecta est brevis & succincta juris municipalis interpretatio, cum triplici indice, titulorum, rerum & verborum, nec non legum, qua strictius, qua fusius explicatarum. Editio novissima, correctior & emendatior. Coloniae Agrippinæ [Koln]: apud viduam Joannis Schlebusch, bibliopolæ, am hoff in Kalten Berg, 1727.

4to (200x156 mm), full vellum binding, red colored edges; pp. [8], 902 [i.e. 908], [24].

Antonius Matthaeus (1601-1654), was professor of criminal law at Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

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

References: IT\ICCU\RMLE\024536 (4 copies). OCLC, 257735718 (2 copies in Germany) and 603879634 (1 copy in Switzerland).

FIRST EDITION ISSUED IN PAVIA OF AN IMPORTANT JUS-CRIMINALIST COMMENTARY BY ANTONIUS MATTHEUS ON BOOKS 47 AND 48 OF JUSTINIAN'S DIGEST, WITH AN ADDITIONAL TREATISE ON THE MUNICIPAL LAW OF UTRECHT

Matthaeus, Antonius. Antonii Matthaei JC [...] Commentarius ad lib. XLVII. et XLVIII. dig. de criminibus, adiecta est brevis, et succinta iuris municipalis interpretatio editio prima Ticinensis in duos tomos distributa et adnotationibus aucta Thomæ Nani [...]. Tomus primus [-secundus]. Ticini [Pavia]: sumptibus Ioannis Capelli et Balthasaris Comini, 1803.

4to (300x246 mm), contemporary paperboard binding (loose, lacks at spines); pp. [6], 412; [2], 413-676.

Antonius Matthaeus (1601-1654), was professor of criminal law at Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

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

References: IT\ICCU\RMSE\002593. OCLC, 563188304 (2 copies in UK) and 81859629 (1 copy in USA and 1 copy in Switzerland).

AMUSING ANCIENT COLLECTION OF ANECDOTES ON LAW AND LAWYERS

Ménage, Gilles. Juris civilis amoenitates […] cum præfatione Joannis Guilielmi Hoffmanni et indicibusnecessariis. Neapoli, apud Vincentium Orsino, Sumptibus Joseph Mariae Porcelli, 1779.

8vo (195x120 mm), half calf binding on handmade colored paper, gilt titles and floral decorations at spine, red ink sprayed edges, ff. 44,356. Xylographic decorations. Missing Prince Ignatius II portrait, supposed to be after title-page.

The amenities of Roman Law, collected by the French scholar Gilles Ménages and introduced by the German jurist Johann Wilhelm Hoffmann (1710-1739).

This original collection put together, for the amusement of jurists, anecdotes, adjustments, and names etymology, all tied to the environment of ancient laws.

Gilles Ménages (1613-1693, latinized Aegidius Menagius) was born in a family of jurists; his father was the King of France lawyer in Angers. He followed the ecclesiastical career instead of the legal one, and was member of Académie Française and Accademia della Crusca: he is remembered to have composed the first etymological vocabularies of French and Italian

References: OCLC, 16671807. ICCU, IT\ICCU\FOGE\008261 e IT\ICCU\RMSE\002619.

SCARCE RENAISSANCE EDITION OF MENOCHIO'S TREATISE ON POSSESSION

Menochio, Giacomo. De adipiscenda et retinenda possessione amplissima et doctissima commentaria. Editio 3. Hac quam sint omnibus utilia, commemorare, necessarium est minime, cum ipsa de se ipsis aperte loquantur. Adjecta sunt rerum notabilium summae, ac Indea copiosissimus.Venetiis (Venice): Apud J. B. Somaschum, 1576.

Folio, contemporary stiff vellum binding with calligraphic title at spine (joints a bit tired), ff. [22], 168.
Woodcut tail-pieces, initials.

Scarce third edition (the first one was published by the same Somasco in 1571) of this classical treatise on possession and real property, often reprinted until the end of 17th century.

Giacomo Menochio (1532-1607) was an Italian jurisconsult, senator, royal adviser and chairman of the Magistrato Straordinario of Milan.

Provenance: Near contemporary owner's inscription Ex libris doctoris Cesaris Malfatti at title-page.

References: OCLC locates few copies worldwide and no copy in US libraries of this edition.

A COMMENTARY ON PRESUMPTIONS AND CONJECTURES IN ROMAN LAW

Menochio, Giacomo. Iacobi Menochii [...] De praesumptionibus, coniecturis, signis, & indicis, commentaria in sex distincta libros [...]. Editio omnium postrema [...]. Adjecta sunt summaria, [...]. Coloniae Agrippinae [Koln]: Apud Ioannem Gymnicum, sub Monocerote, Anno M. DC. VI. [1606].

Folio (384x256 mm), contemporary full vellum binding (afterwards restored with other parchment), four raised abnds at spine (traces of use, tears); pp. [88], 526, 525-1073, 1038-1096, [2]. Title-page in red and black with woodcut printer's device (hippocampus, heron and snake with motto: Discite iusticiam moniti). A different version of the printer's device appears on the final page. Woodcut tail-pieces, initials.

Giacomo Menochio (1532-1607) was an Italian jurisconsult, senator, royal adviser and chairman of the Extraordinary Magistrate of Milan.

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

References: This edition is not registered in ICCU. OCLC, 312025327 (1 copy in Germany), 499147658 (1 copy in USA, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta), 602727683 (1 copy in Switzerland).

A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS DEALING WITH JUDGES, JUDICIAL DISCRETION AND CIVIL PROCEDURE, ACTIONS AND DEFENSES IN ROMAN LAW BY THE ITALIAN JURIST GIACOMO MENOCHIO

Menochio, Giacomo. Iacobi Menochii [...] De arbitrarijs iudicum quaestionibus, & causis. Libri duo. [...] Hac omnium postrema editione ab ipso auctore recogniti, [...] Cum indicibus quatuor, [...]. Venetiis: apud Ioan. Antonium de Franciscis, 1624.

Folio (320x214 mm), full vellum binding from a manuscript of the early sixteenth century, paste-board covered with a three columns printed leaf again of the early sixteenth century (spine restored with ancient paper); pp. [120], 1008. Large printer's device at title-page (in a richly figured frame the Peace, with the motto: Omnem sensum exuperat). Xylographic initials. Text in two columns.

Giacomo Menochio (1532-1607) was an Italian jurisconsult, senator, royal adviser and chairman of the Extraordinary Magistrate of Milan.

Provenance: Private library of a Verona noble family, whose roots are in Mantua and in which there were distinguished lawyers and jurists.
Handwritten ownership inscriptio al title page (A.J. Castellani).

References: IT\ICCU\UM1E\001956. OCLC, 797684889 and 220684352 (one copy in Australia, National Library of Australia, Canberra).

FUNDAMENTAL TREATISE ON DISTRAINTS AND MORTGAGES

Merlini, Mercuriale. De Pignoribus et Hypothecis Tractatus Absolutissimus Mercvriali Merlino i.v.d. et patritio foroliviensi avthore; vnà cvm decisionibvs magistralibvs Sacrae rotae romanae hactenus non impressis in eodem relatis; in quo omnes propemodum casus, qui in controuersiam vocari possunt summo studio, ac ingenio enucleantur iuxta sententias doctorum, senatuum, & aliorum tribunalium, ac praecipuè dictae rptae romanae. Opus tàm in scholis profitentibus, quàm in foro versantibus apprimè vtile, ac necessarium. Cvm locvpletissimis indicibvs qvaestionvm, decisionvm, & rerum notatu dignarum, quae tàm in Tractatu, quàm in decionibus continentur. . Venetiis: Apud Iuntas, & Baba, M. DC. XXXIX. [1649].
[bound with:]
Merlini, Mercuriale. Decisiones sacrae rotae romanae in tractatu de pignoribus, & hypothecis, excell.mi D. Mercvrialis Merlini I.V.D. foroliuiensis relatae, & ab oedem collectae. [...]. [Venetiis: Apud Iuntas, & Baba, M. DC. XXXIX].

Folio, contemporary stiff vellum with raised bands spine, pp. [84], 644, 212, [26].
Title vignette; title page printed in red and black; headpieces; initials, some decorated, and within initial frames; catchwords; main body of text in double columns.

Fundamental treatise on Distraints and Mortgages: besides the description of the rules of Commercial Law that include bankruptcy and credit management, Merlini extended the work to the Decisiones by the Holy Roman Rota that could be useful the understand the subject.

Mercuriale Merlini (1597-1657) was a lawyer from Forlì (Italy). He wrote many treatises on juridical subjects.

References: OCLC, 23123628.

FUNDAMENTAL TREATISE ON DISTRAINTS AND MORTGAGES

Merlini, Mercuriale. De Pignoribus et Hypothecis Tractatus Absolutissimus [...] Una cum decisionibus magistralibus Sacrae Rotae Romanae hactenus non impressis in eodem relatis; In quo omnes prope modum casus, qui in controversiam vocati possunt summo studio [...]. Venetiis, Apud Haeredes Francisci Baba, 1661.[unito a:]Merlini, Mercuriale. Decisiones Sacrae Rotae Romanae In Tractatu de Pignoribus, & Hypothecis [...]. [Venetiis, Apud Haeredes Francisci Baba, 1661].

Folio (340x235 mm), original paperboard, sepia ink handwritten titles at spine, visible joints, pp. [84], 627 [but 619, mistakes in pages numbering], [1, blank], 226, [26, last blank]. Untrimmed copy, first title-page printed in red and black, xylographic decorations at first leaves.

Fundamental treatise on Distraints and Mortgages, printed in Venice by a joint venture of printers, including the heirs of Baba, Combi & Lanou and Nicolò Pezzana.

Besides the description of the rules of Commercial Law that include bankruptcy and credit management, Merlini extended the work to the Decisiones by the Holy Roman Rota that could be useful the understand the subject.

Mercuriale Merlini (1597-1657) was a lawyer from Forlì (Italy). He wrote many treatises on juridical subjects. Among them the most important is De legitima Tractatus.

References: OCLC, 18021929. IT\ICCU\MILE\006799.

SCARCE EDITION OF MERLINI'S TREATISE ON INHERITANCE LAW
ONLY ONE COPY IN USA

Merlini, Mercuriale. De Legitima Tractatus Absolutissimus [...]. Genevae (Ginevra), Sumptibus Samuelis Chouet, 1665.
[bound with:]
Merlini, Mercuriale. Decisiones Sacrae Rotae Romanae In Tractatu de Legitima [...]. (Genevae, Sumptibus Samuelis Chouet, 1665).

Folio (338x208 mm), full stiff vellum binding, four raised bands spine, sepia ink handwritten titles at first spine sector and at lower edge, pp. [72, last three are blank], 584, 322, [38, last is blank]. Page numbering jumps from p. 124 to p. 133 due to a mistake during printing. Red and black titlepage, xylographic headletters and decorations at preliminary leaves, text on two columns.

Scarce late Renaissance treatise on inheritance, focused on the procedure of the legitime, or legitima portio.

The treatise is augmented by many Decisiones by the Roman Rota related to real cases dealing with the matter.

Mercuriale Merlini (1597-1657) was a jurisconsultant from Forlì. He wrote many treatises on juridical subjects.

Provenance: Some typographical small hands and pen strokes at margins of few pages.

References : IT\ICCU\BA1E\014351 (only one copy of the same edition, identical to our copy for everything but the printer, Pierre Chouet instead of Samuel). OCLC 17974137 quotes only two copies worldwide, one in USA (UCLA, Los Angeles).

EXTREMELY RARE EDITION OF THE DECISIONS OF THE GREAT COURT AND THE SUPREME MAGISTRATE OF THE KINGDOM OF SICILY

APPARENTLY NO COPIES IN USA

Muta, Mario. Decisiones nouissimæ magnæ Regiæ Curiæ, supremique magistratus Regni Siciliæ, sedis quidem, nedum criminalis, & ciuilis, sed præterea causarum delegatarum, in quibus, præter nonnullas feudales quæstiones, ac delictorum, beneficiorum, censuum, [...] Mario Muta iurisconsulto Panormitano, [...] authore. Cum summarijs, ac duplici indici, tum argumentorum, tùm materiarum indice locupletissimo [...]. Panormi [Palermo]: apud Io. Baptistam Maringum impressorem cameralem, 1620 (Panormi: ex typographia Io. Baptista Maringhi).

Folio, 300x204 mm, contemporary full vellum binding with four raised bands at spine, gilt title at spine in a frame of gilt decoration, calligraphed title at lower edge; pp. [12], 600, [64]. Title-page in red and black types, with editorial woodcut (a compass, held by a hand coming out of a cloud, drawing a circle; motto: "Dove manca natura suplisce l'arte"), in a figured frame. Xylographic initials, head- and final-pieces. Text in Latin, printed in two columns.

References: IT\ICCU\RLZE\012160 (4 copies). OCLC, 860137804 (one copy in Italy) and 807917397 (one copy in Spain). Apparently no copies in USA.

THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF NAPOLEON CODE

Code Napoleon, suivi de l'expose des motifs, sur chaque loi, presente par les orateurs de Gouvernement; des rapports faits au Tribunat au nom de la Commission de Legislation; des opinions emises dans le cours de la discussion; des discours prononces au corps legislatif par les orateurs du Tribunat; et d'une table analytique et raisonnee des matieres tant du code que des discours. A Paris: chez Firmin Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, 1808.

9 volumes (out of 10, it lacks the first one), elegant strictly contemporary mottled calf with gilt decoration at spine, red label and gilt-lettered title, yellow edges.

CONTENT:

2: Tome deuxieme. Contenant la discussion des titres, de la publication des lois; de la jouissance et de la privation des droits civils: des actes de l'etat civil; du domicile; des absents; du marriage; des actes respectueux; et du divorce.
PubblicazioneA Paris : chez Firmin Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808
pp. viii, 422, [2].

3: Tome troisieme. Contenant la discussion des titres, de la paternite et de la filiation; de l'adoption et de la tutele officiense, dela puissance paternelle; de la minorite, de la tutele, et de l'emancipation, de la majorite, de l'interdiction, et du conseil judiciaire.
A Paris : chez Firmin Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808.
pp. [4], 308.

4: Tome quatrieme. Contenant discussion des titres, de la distinction des biens; de la proprieté; de l'usufruit, de l'usage, et de l'habitation; des servitudes ou services fonciers; des successions; des donations entre-vifs et des testaments.
A Paris : chez Firmin Didot, libraire. et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808.
pp. [4], 395, [1].

5: Tome cinquieme. Contenant la discussion des titres, des contrats ou des obligations conventionnelles en général; des engagements qui se forment sans convention; du contract de mariage, et des droits respectifs des époux.
A Paris : che Firmin Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracters d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808.
pp. [4], 461, [1].

6: Tome sixieme. Contenant la discussion des titres, de la vente; de l'echange; du contrat de louage; du contrat de societe; du pret; du depot et du sequestre; des contrats aleatories; du mandat; du cautionnement; des transactions.
A Paris : chez Firmim Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808.
pp. [4], 404.

7: Tome septieme. Contenant la discussion des titres, de la contrainte par corps en materie civile; du nantissement; des privileges et hypotheques; de l'expropriation forcee, et des ordres entre las creanciers; de la prescription; de la loi sur la reunion des lois civiles, et de celles comprises dans le supplement.
A Paris : chez Firmin Didot, libraire, et fondeur en caracteres d'imprimerie, rue de Thionville, n. 10, 1808.
pp. [4], 408.

8: Tome huitieme.

VARIOUS AUTHORS. Motivi, rapporti e discussioni che si fecero al corpo legislativo francese per la formazione del codice Napoleone. Traduzione italiana col testo del codice in originale francese. Volume primo [-decimo]Milano: dalla tipografia di Francesco Sonzogno di G. Batt. stampatore e librajo, 1805-1807.

7 volumes (out of 10) distributed in 10 parts, contemporary colored printer's wrappers.

An historical account, published by Biblioteca di Giurisprudenza Italiana, about the birth of the Napoleon Code, here translated in Italian with the French parallel text.

References: ICCU, IT\ICCU\SBLE\015548.