21 - Law - Law books

Law - Law books Charles VII, King of France Pragmatica Sanctio. Cosmas Guymier, by adding his notes and associating himself with the prior editors of this codex, will be recognized as its interpreter... With a large publisher’s mark on the title page as well as several woodcut initials decorated with foliage. Paris, Jean Barbier for Geoffroy de Marnef, December 1514. 205 (CCV) numbered leaves, 43 unnumbered leaves (sign. Gamma 6–8, A–E8). Smooth 18th-century calfskin binding over four bands, with gold-stamped Title on leather label, double gold-embossed fillets on the front and spine, the latter divided into 5 sections, each additionally decorated with a flower, and a speckled edge on the reverse (partially with missing binding, rubbed, and scraped). A very rare early print of the “Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges,” annotated by a knowledgeable contemporary hand. - Brunet IV, 856 and Renouard, III, 217 (both refer only to the edition by Jean Petit). - Extremely rare on the market; we have identified only two other copies at auctions (2023, 1971). A slightly less rare title edition bearing the publisher’s mark of Jean Petit was published at the same time (see the digitized copy in Munich, BSB, call no. J.can.f. 25). - A collection of laws enacted by Charles VII in 1438 to strengthen the French clergy and simultaneously limit papal power, presented here with the glosses by Cosme Guymier (d. 1503), which served as a model for the Parisian humanist school of law. Guymier’s commentary, which is also enriched by numerous manicles in the print and whose first name (spelled “Cosmas”) is introduced on the title page in red ink with an acrostic, was first published in 1486. Although a member of the Parisian faculty, Guymier remarkably spares neither the pope nor the king in this work. Includes a 43-leaf subject index by Pierre Cambafort and Jean Chappuis. - Numerous underlinings, multi-line marginal notes, and additional annotations by a knowledgeable contemporary reader in red or brown ink. - The book block was trimmed during binding in the 18th century, resulting in the loss of text in the margins in some places. Title page and verso of the last leaf bear owner’s inscriptions in a contemporary hand (including “Arnery”) and another from the 17th century. Leaves i–x show slight browning, fingerprints, and dirt stains in places; otherwise a fresh copy of this typographically remarkable rarity, notable for its large publisher’s logo, the two-color black-and-red title page featuring an acrostic, and the attractive Gothic typeface. Rare early print of the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, annotated by a knowledgeable contemporary hand, illustrated with a large publisher’s woodcut device on the title page and several woodcut initials decorated with tendrils. Bound in 18th-century full calf with a gilt spine title. - For references, see above. - A body of laws enacted by King Charles VII in 1438 to strengthen the French clergy and restrict papal power, here with glosses by Cosme Guymier (died 1503), which were groundbreaking for the Parisian humanist school of law. Guymier’s commentary, whose first name (printed as “Cosmas”) is also featured on the title page in red with an acrostic, first appeared in 1486; in this edition, it is further enhanced by numerous manicules in the print. Although a member of the Paris faculty, Guymier remarkably spares neither the pope nor the king. Includes a 43-page subject index by Pierre Cambafort and Jean Chappuis. — Extremely rare on the market; we were able to trace only two other copies at auction (2023, 1971). A slightly less rare edition appeared with the publisher’s imprint of Jean Petit (see the digital copy in Munich, BSB, call number J.can.f. 25). - Heavy underlining, multiline marginalia, and additional manicules by a knowledgeable contemporary reader in red and brown ink. - The book block was trimmed during binding in the 18th century, resulting in some loss of text in the marginalia. The title page and the verso of the last page contain owner’s remarks in a contemporary hand (“Arnery”?) and another hand from the 17th century. Pages i–x are slightly browned, with some finger and dirt stains in places; otherwise, this is a fresh copy of this typographically remarkable rarity, notable for its large publisher’s woodcut mark, the black-and-red printed title page with an acrostic, and the attractive Gothic typeface. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.