Medieval Notary Manuscripts & Law Books

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL SPANISH JURIST

Covarruvias y Leyva, Didacus. Opera omnia cum authoris tractatu in tit. de frigidis & maleficiatis, septem quaestionibus distincto, quibus an matrimonium cum hoc impedimento constare possit, accurate explicatur. Multis in locis a cl. ic. Cornelio Brederodio auctus, illustratus vt passim hanc notam designatur. Accesserunt hac postrema editione Joannis Vffeli [...] in varium resolutionum libros notae vberiores. Antwerpiae, apud Ioannem Keerbergium, 1610.

A large folio folum (390x250x105 mm), contemporary pigskin binding with blind-tooled decorations, pp. [12], 610, [2]; [8], 548, [48].

The collected works of one of the most renowned jurists of the Spanish Middle Age in a giant folio edition with handsome binding. References: OCLC, 65108241 locates only a copy in US libraries, at Yale Law School Library.

FINE EDITION OF CUJAS' COLLECTED WORKS IN A BEAUTIFUL CONTEMPORARY BINDING

Cujas, Jacques. Iacobi Cuiacii Iurisconsulti, Operam quae de iure fecit et edi volvit. Ab ipso autore postremun recognita & libris quibusdam aucta. Genevae, apud Philippum Albert ex Alex, Pernet. 1609.

Four volumes bound in a volume in-folio (350x220 mm), contemporary brown calf, gilt borders at each cover, gilt title and decoration at spine (some repairs), pp. [16], 80, col. 81-404, pp. [12], col. 579, pp. [14], col. 788, pp. [18], col. 664, pp. [106].
Text in Latin on two columns, some passages in Greek.
Engraved dead-letters and head-pieces; a fine full-page engraved illustration of Arbor cognationum(genealogical tree).

Scarce imprint of Cujas' collected works, one of the last edition published under the direct supervision of the great French lawyer.

Provenance: Signature Ludovicus de (cancelled surname) at title-page.

References: OCLC 7098049 locates in USA only the copy of University of Rochester (NY).

CORTI'S TREATISE ON FEUDAL LAW
NOT IN USA

CORTI, FRANCESCHINO. Fran. Curtii iunioris ... Tractatus feudorum. Correctus atque adnotationibus, quae commentariorum vice esse possunt, illustratus a Ioanne Hauichorstio Monasterien. I.C. Adiecto indice rerum memoriam dignarum locupletissimo. Editio tertia, prioribus accuratior, & luculentior. Coloniae Agrippinae, apud Theodorum Baumium sub signo arboris, 1583.

8vo (160 x 95 mm), contemporary limp vellum with gilt nobiliar coat of arms at both covers, traces of ties, red edges, pp. [14], 550, [34].
Roman and Italic type.

Scarce and beautiful imprint of the third edition of Corti’s renowned treatise on feudal law.

References: OCLC locates only 10 copies worldwide (no copy in USA), 2 in Italy (ICUU).

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 16TH CENTURY'S TREATISE ON DONATIONS

CUTELLI, MARIUS. D.Marii Cutelli siculi catinensis V.I.D. ex supremorum ipsius Regni Tribunalium advocatis. Tractationum de donationibus contemplatione matrimonii, aliisque de causis inter parentes, et filios factis. Tomus primus et secundus. Editio secunda. Cui hac impressione additae fuerunt in fine quamplurime Sac. Rom. Rote decisiones, non antea evulgate, ad materiam conferentes. Venetiis, apud Bertanos, 1668.

2 parts bound together in a volume in folio, near contemporary half vellum, pp. 8, 191; 26, 263.

Woodcut head-letters, woodcut tail-pieces. Text on two columns.

Second edition, enlarged with a wide collection of Rota decisions, of this most wanted monograph in donations, one of the most important of 16th century.

References: OCLC locates 7 copies worldwide, 1 in Italy (ICUU) at University of Siena.

RARE ALEXANDER DA IMOLA'S COMMENTARY IN JUSTINIAN'S DIGEST
THE BURKHARD STADTMANN COPY THEN PASSED TO GEORG RITTERHAUSEN

Tartagni, Alessandro. Aureu[m] opus excellentissimi. u.i. monarche Alexandri de Imola: super .j. [et] .ij. ff. vete. Summa cu[m] cura: o[mn]iq[ue] industria ex fidelissimis exe[m]plaribus excerptu[m] [et] in pristinu[m] nitore[m] eme[n]datu[m]. Cu[m] apostillis doctissimor[um] Doc. Fran. de Curte [et] Bernar. de Landriano: [et] cu[m] in numeris addi. q[uae] in alijs codicibus impressis no[n] reperiebant. Additis e[s]t addi. Do. Ant. Fra[n]cisci de Doc. necnon summarijs per spect. i.u. interpretem D[omi]n[u]m Nicolaum de Lacu compositis. Postremo aute[m] cu[m] vtilissimo Repertorio alphabetico singulares conclusiones dictor[um] per Alex. co[n]tine[n]te ac cu[m] copiosissimis additionib[us] Henrici Ferrandat Niuernen[sis] in hac vltima impressione in lucem editis.. (at colophon:) Lugduni : Impressa per Iacobum Mareschal. Impensis nobilium mercatorum Lugdunensium., Anno salutis dominice. M. ccccc. xx. de mense Decembris. (Lyon: Mareschal, 1520).
BOUND WITH:
Tartagni, Alessandro. Cu[m] apostillis doctissimoru[m] doctorum domini Francisci de Curte [et] Bernardini de Landriano. Et cu[m] alijs innumeris additionibus per d[omi]n[u]m Antoniu[m] Franciscum de Doctoribus Patauinum noviter editus. Postremo aut[em] cum singulari repertorio alphabetico conclusiones dictorum per Alex contine[n]te ac cum copiosissimis additionibus Hen. Ferrandat Niuern[ensis]. in hac vlti[m]a impressione in lucem editi. (at colophon:). Lugduni: Impensis nobilium mercatorum Lugdunensium, Anno a Virginis Partu .M. cccccxx. die xiii de mense Decembris (Lyon: Sachon, 1520).

Folio, original ancient wooden boards (monastic binding), renewed calf spine with five raised bands and blind-tooled decorations, metal clasps, handwritten title at edge, ff. 168, [2]; ff. I-CXLIII, 145-202 (misnumbered), 1-106, (2, the last is blank).
Title pages printed in red and black, with woodcut border; fine woodcut initials.

Very rare Alexander Da Imola's commentary on both Justinian's Digestus Vetus and Digestum Novus with the additions of Francesco Corte, Bernardino da Landriano, Antonfrancesco Dottori and Henri Ferrandat.

Alessandro Tartagni also called Alessandro da Imola (1424-1477) was an Italian jurist and canonist. He taught at Pavia, Bologna, Ferrara and Padua. His fame is due to the commentaries on Justinian's Digest and Code —but also in Decretals, showing a mastery of both Civil and Canon Law.

Provenance: 1. Contemporary signature Sebastianus Hallerius.

VERY RARE DA IMOLA'S COMMENTARY IN JUSTINIAN'S DIGEST
NO COPIES IN USA

[Roman Law] Tartagni, Alessandro. Alexander de Imola In secundam Digesti veteris. Prima [-secunda] pars commentariorum Alexandri Tartagni Imolensis ... super Digesto veteri ... Cui accesserunt annotationes praeclarissimorum uirorum domini Francisci de curte, domini Bernardini de landriano, ac domini Francisci de doctoribus ... Adiecto insuper amplissimo domini Hieronymi Loreti Repertorio. Venetiis: [al segno della corona] 1541.

Folio, modern limp paperboards, leaves printed on both sides in double columns.

Very rare Tartagni's commentary on Justinian's Digestum Vetus.

Alessandro Tartagni also called Alessandro da Imola (1424-1477) was an Italian jurist and canonist. He taught at Pavia, Bologna, Ferrara and Padua. His fame is due to the commentaries on Justinian's Digest and Code —but also in Decretals, showing a mastery of both Civil and Canon Law.

References: Censimento, CNCE 49234. No copies in USA: OCLC, 44596200 locates a copy of the other part, the Digestum Novum, at University of Iowa Libraries.

UNCOMMON SECOND EDITION OF THIS COLLECTION OF ELEMENTS OF ROMAN CIVIL LAW

Dall'Olio, Giuseppe. Elementi delle leggi civili romane divisi in quattro libri, ed esposti nell'italiana favella dall'abate Giuseppe Dall'Olio romano. Nelli quali s'indica il diritto naturale [...]. Seconda edizione corretta, ed accresciuta. Libro primo [-quarto]. [...]. Roma: per Luigi Perego Salvioni Stampator Vaticano alla piazza di Sant'Ignazio, 1795.

8vo (230x152 mm), editorial paperback binding; 4 vols; pp. XXVIII, 174, [1] folded plate; VIII, 165, [3]; XXIV, 262, [2]; VIII, 176. Xyl. initials and head-pieces. Text in Italian.

Provenance: Family’s ink stamps at title-pages, not readable. Many handwritten ownership signatures (Jo Filippo Monetti, 1824; Jo Alessandro Moscatelli, Ponzano, 1824; Lorenzo Liberati; Vincenzo Di Silvio).

References: IT\ICCU\RLZE\013607 (7 copies). OCLC, 62140886 (3 copies in USA).

THE SERVITUDES ON ARABLE LANDS IN NORTH-ITALY

Dandini, Francesco Ercole.Herculis Francisci Dandini com. et jc. et in Patavino gymnasio Pandectarum, Codicis Justinianei et novellarum Constitutionum interpretis De servitutibus prædiorum interpretationes per epistolas ad loca quædam libri VII & VIII Pandectarum illustranda pertinentes. Verona: typis Seminarii, 1741.

Folio, contemporary printer's wrappers, pp. [12], 178.
Title page printed in red and black, engraved head-letters, engraved head and tail pieces.
Captions: Epistola ... Hercules Franciscus Dandinus Josepho Torello.

Very scarce and sumptuous Verona imprint of the first and only edition of the jurist Ercole Dandini regarding the laws on property, especially on Servitudes of arable lands.

Ercole Francesco Dandini (1695-1747) was an Italian lawyer who taught (from 1735 to his death) civil law at University of Padua.

References: OCLC 428014319 located only a copy in US libraries, at University of Michigan Law Library (Ann Arbor, MI). Apparently, never appeared in auction.

THE COLLECTED VERDICTS OF THE ROYAL COURTS OF NAPLES IN THE RENAISSANCE

D'Afflitto, Matteo. Decisiones Sacri Consilii Neapolitani. Lyon: apud Haeredes Iacobi Giuntae, 1548.

Large 8vo, stiff vellum (restored) with handwritten title at spine, ff. [64, index], 375, [1, blank].
Two separate title-pages (the Index before the text), text on two columns. Woodcut head-letters.

Valuable edition of the collection of verdicts of the Royal Courts of Naples with the commentary of the renowned jurist Matteo D’Afflitto.

Published for the first time in 1509 with the participation of D’Afflitto’s cousin Michele, this work became necessary to the forensic activity in Naples and was frequently reprinted.

Matteo D’Afflitto, scholar of Civil and Feudal Law at the University of Naples, was one of the most renowned Neapolitan jurists of all times.

Provenance: Many ancient handwritten notes both at back cover and at the last leaf, blank.

References: OCLC 246332932 (3 copies in USA: University of California, Berkeley Law Library; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Washington University in St. Louis).

A FOUNDING TEXT ON THE DISCIPLINE OF THE HOMICIDE
AND THE REHABILITATION OF THE GUILTY

DE ANGELIS, FRANCISCUS JOSEPHUS. Franc. Josephi De Angelis ... Tractatus criminalis de delictis, in tres partes divisus, pars prima; in qua agitur de omnibus fere delictis, necnon de judicum competentia in procedendo in quocumque ipsorum, & poenis exequendis, imponendis, ac temperandis, tam de jure civili, & pontificio, quam municipali regni Neapolis, ac consuetudine aliorum locorum. Cum novo indice titulorum, & rerum notabilium. Venetiis, apud Paulum Balleonium,1705.

[BOUND WITH]

Franc. Josephi De Angelis ... Tractatus criminalis de delictis pars secunda, in qua agitur de delictis propriis diversorum, ad proprium esse spectanctibus, vel ratione personae, vel muneris, seu proprii officii. Cum novo indice titulorum, ac rerum notabiliumVenetiis, apud Paulum Balleonium,1705.

[BOUND WITH]

Franc. Josephi De Angelis ... Tractatus de habilitatione reorum, in quo de habilitatione in genere; juratoria cautione; consignatione per chlamydem ... exacte explicatur. Opus omnibus, qui criminalibus incumbunt maxime utile, ac necessarium. Venetiis, apud Paulum Balleonium,1705.

3 parts in a volume in folio, contemporary limp vellum with calligraphic title at spine, pp. [8], 240, [28]; 120, [2], 125-162; 87, [1].

Title page printed in red & black, woodcut head-letters, woodcut head and -tail pieces. Text on two columns.

Scarce and fine edition of one of the founding texts about the legal discipline of the homicide, followed by another important work regarding the rehabilitation’s procedure for the guilty.

Taken a degree in utroque iure in Naples, De Angelis started a long a successful career as criminal lawyer and, at the end of his activity he printed this voluminous treatise, that was an example for completeness and methodicalness of exposition. Among the other worthy of note is the treatise on rehabilitation of a guilty and on precautionary measures.

References: OCLC locates only 5 copies worldwide and 8 complete copies in Italy (ICUU).

VERY SCARCE ITALIAN «BLOODY MURDER» CONTAINING THE DEATH SENTENCE OF A LAWYER FOR THE MURDER OF HIS BROTHER

Relazione del delitto di omicidio e della condanna alla pena capitale del Dott. Giuseppe Gaspari. Verona, 29 Agosto, 1835 (printed by Libanti in Verona).

4to, printed on blue paper, pp. 4. A small woodcut with a skull and crossbones at the top of the text.


Very scarce «Bloody Murder» of the death sentence of a lawyer, Giuseppe Gaspari (born 8 may 1775) from Cologna Veneta (a village 20 km east from Verona, on the road to Venice), sentence executed by hanging on 29 August of 1835.

This documents tells the history of Gaspari, his childhood («he was proud and fierce»), his career as a lawyer and the continuous harassments against his father and his brother Sebastiano. On 13 September 1834, he starts to Cologna with a knife and the following morning, a Sunday, and waits for the arrival of his brother in the main square of the village, sitting at a coffee shop and pretending to write. When the brother arrives, he grabs him by the jacket with the left hand and with the right vibrates two stabbings, piercing his heart, and then a third stab wounds to the left thigh. Then he washes the knife at the fountain, declaring to have been satisfied with his revenge, and starts spontaneously towards the prison, leaving a widow and six children.

Styled at the time as "Last Dying Speeches" or "Bloody Murders" this kind of imprints «were sold to the audiences that gathered to witness public executions in 18th and 19th century (especially in Britain). These ephemeral publications were intended for the middle or lower classes, and most sold for a penny or less. Published by printers who specialized in this type of street literature, a typical example features an illustration (usually of the criminal, the crime scene, or the execution); an account of the crime and (sometimes) the trial; and the purported confession of the criminal, often cautioning the reader in doggerel verse to avoid the fate awaiting the perpetrator» (Crime Broadsides Project).

A classic Italian murder, committed by a lawyer.

References: For scholars and collectors interested in this topic, we suggest to see the beautiful «Crime Broadsides Project» of The Harvard School Library, a digitization of more than 500 broadsides.

FUNDAMENTAL COLLECTION OF DECISION OF THE PARLIAMENT OF BORDEAUX (FRANCE)

De Bohier, Nicolas.Decisionum aureum in sacro Burdegal. senatu olim discussarum ac promulgatarum Pars prima. [et secunda] Quas nunc demum, adhibitis nonnullis summi nominis iureconsultis, & accuratius emendatas, & summariis vtilissimis, indiceque locupletissimo illustratas, in gratiam studiosorum il lucem damus. Huc accesserunt doctissimae simul ac utilissimae additiones ab eodem autore editae in tractatum Ioannis Montani. Venetiis, iussu F. Sansouini, 1568.

A thick volume 4to (200x150 mm), contemporary limp vellum, handwritten titles at spine, pp. [56], 949, [1].
Two separate title-pages; two half-page illustrations.

Important collection of Decisions of the Parliament of Bordeaux (France), edited by Nicolas de Bohier, viscount Pommiers, president of the parliament in Bordeaux and renowned lawyer.
The work had a great success and was reprinted many times during the 16th century.

Provenance: Some cancelled contemporary signatures at title-page.

References: CNCE 7055. Apparently no copies of this edition in USA.