Medieval Notary Manuscripts & Law Books

THE MOST IMPORTANT ITALIAN AGRONOMIC TREATISE OF THE BAROQUE AGE

Tanara, Vincenzo. L' economia del cittadino in villa del sig. Vincenzo Tanara. Libri VII. Bologna: Dozza, 1648.

4to, contemporary limp vellum with handwritten title at spine (with a small tear), ff. 554, [13].
Dedicace to Alfonso Gonzaga, Count of Novellara.



Uncommon second enlarged edition of the most important Italian agronomic treatise of the seventeenth century, illustrated by many practical informations on land cultivation and animal rearing.

The book, published for the first time in 1644, had a great success and was reprinted ften times in the following 150 years.

CONTENT:
The first book is devoted to bread and wine; the second one to the grapes and the bees; the third deals with the courtyard animals, with interesting notions of culinary; the fourth is dedicated to vegetable gardens the manner to cook vegetables; the book five is devoted to gardens and flowers; the sixth is on the cultivation of the fields; and, finally, the seventh deals with the influences of the sun and moon on the cultivation and includes interesting descriptions of banquets and dinners also indicating tips on hunting.

The work also contains other chapters of gastronomy including one list of 110 ways to dress and cook the pork.

References: Goldsmiths'-Kress no. 00962. Michel-Michel VIII, 15; Fantuzzi VII, 75.
OCLC 65319337.

THE GODEFROY EDITION OF CODEX THEODOSIANUS

Theodosius Emperor-Godefroy, Jacques (editor). Codex Theodosianus: cum perpetuis commentariis Iacobi Gothofredi viri senatorii et iurisconsulti superioris seculi eximii : præmittuntur chronologia accuratior chronicon historicum et prolegomena subiiciuntur notitia dignitatum, prosopographia. Editio noua in VI tomos digesta collata cum antiquissimo codice ms. Wurceburgensi ... recognita emendata variorumque obseruationibus aucta quibus adiecit suas Joan. Dan. Ritter. Leipzig: Weidmann, Moritz Georg. 1736-1743.

Six volumes bound in four books in folio, contemporary full calf with five raised bands spine (the last volume is shorter), ochre labels and black-lettered titles.

German edition of Codex Theodosianus with the renowned commentary by Jacques Godefroy, that was the first modern edition of the Codex. It remains a masterpiece of scholarship and erudition.

This edition also contains additional notes by Antoine Marville.

The Theodosian Code is an official compilation of all laws enacted since the reign of Constantine that was commissioned by Emperor Theodosius II in 429 CE. Completed in 438 CE, and ratified that year by the senate, it was the standard legal text of the empire, one that superseded all earlier codes. It would later exert enormous influence on the barbarians who assumed control of the Western Empire. The Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Franks, Lombards and Burgundians used it as the basis for their legal codes.

References: OCLC 476502950.

JUSTINIAN'S INSTITUTIONS IN GREEK WITH THE ORIGINAL PARALLEL TEXT

Theophilus Antecessor (Fabrot, Charles Annibal -translator). Theophili Antecessoris Institutionum libri IV. Parisiis, Apud Viduam Mathurini Du Puis, via Iacobaea, sub signo Coronae aureae, 1657.

4to (243x175 mm), full stiff vellum, sepia ink handwritten titles on second spine section, edges sprayed in blue ink, pp. [16], 720. Red and black title page with engraved printer device with a Crown and the motto Donec totum ambiat orbem . Text in greek, roman and latin types, xylographic headletters and decorations.

Second edition of Justinian's Institutiones edited by Teophilus, one of the compiler of the work, appointed by Justinian himself.

In the same period in which it had started the Law reorganization in the Pandectae, Justinian asked the jurists Trebonianus, Theophilus e Dorotheus to create a manual that summarized the items of the Roman Law to be used by the students of the Empire. The Institutiones remained, along the centuries, a cornerstone of the matter because of the clarity and completeness, and for that reasons were utilized by the most important scholars as a skeleton to build their own commentary on it.

Charles Annibal Fabrot (1580-1659), French jurist, translates Theophilus’ Institutiones proposing the original greek text with the latin translation on the front column.

Theophilus was a byzantine jurist that lived around VI century. His fame is related to the compilation of Justinian’s Institutiones and to the Parafrasi that he edited on that work. His operas gained a huge fame and a great diffusion with the coming of the printing, published with the Corpus Iuris Civilis or with Paratitla .

References: (ICCU, IT\ICCU\ FOGE\015726). OCLC, 53372144 locates only 3 copies in USA (Boston College, Duke University Libraries and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary).

A TREATISE OF INHERITANCE LAW

Torre, Joannes. De pactis futurae successionis tractatus tripartitus. Authore Joa. Torre Nobili Lucensi additis supra ducentas S. Rotae Rom. recentissimis ad gravioribus decisionitus nusquam imprissis, quorumvis Capitum materias punctualiter tangentibus. Cum Indicibus. Venetiis: Apud Nicolaum Pezzana, 1694.

2 parts bound in a volume in-folio, contemporary stiff vellum.
Title-page printed in red and black. Woodcut head-letters, head and tail pieces. Text in Roman and Italic type, on two columns.

Second edition of Torre's treatise on inheritance law, here enriched with a large selection of Roman Sacra Rota supreme courts sentences.

Provenance: 1. Signature Octavius Dolphinus. 2. Other not identified signatures.

References: OCLC 50738401.

Torre, Joannes. Tractatus tripartitus De pactis futurae successionis: cum supra ducentas S. Rotae Romanae decisionibus recentissimis, hactenus ineditis, & quoromvis capitum materias punctualiter tangentibus. Coloniae Allobrogum, apud fratres de Tournes, 1699.

Folio (357x220 mm), 19th century wrappers, pp. [16], 548.
Title-page printed in red and black. Woodcut head-letters, head and tail pieces. Text in Roman and Italic type, on two columns.

An interesting treatise on inheritance law, here enriched with a large selection of Roman Sacra Rota supreme courts sentences.

References: OCLC 55275438.

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF THE AUTHORITATIVE BELGIAN CANONIST

Van Espen, Zeger Bernard. Jus ecclesiasticum universum caeteraque scripta omnia ... Opus nativae integritati summo studio restitutum.Venetiis, apud A. Graziosi, 1769.

9 volumes (out of 10) in-folio, contemporary stiff vellum binding with gilt title at spine.
Title-page in red and black, woodcut headletters.

Fine Venetian edition of the collected works, published posthumous, of the renowned Belgian jurist and canonist Zeger-Bernard van Espen (1646-1728).

The influence of his thought, both theological and juridical, survived for two centuries in the Netherlands and in Europe.

Van Espen's career and life was ruined by the Jansenist controversy (about the Papal Bull Unigenitus), in which his Gallican tendencies concerning civil and ecclesiastical power aligned him more with Port-Royal than Rome. All of his works were placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum after his a divinis suspension for the support of the election of a Jansenist bishop of Utrecht. His early work was recognized by Pope Benedict XIV as authoritative.

References: OCLC 23640284.

BELONGED TO THE ITALIAN LAWYER AND FASCIST MINISTER CESARE MARIA DE VECCHI

[Scholasticism] Venerio, Fortunato. Sanctissimo Patri ac Domino Nostro Clementi XII Pont. Opt. Max. Rectae Fidei Cardines et Recta Fides. Auctore D. Fortunato Venerio, Presbytero Congregationis C.R. S. pauli Barnabita &c. Dogmatico-Scholasticarum Quaestionum. Tomus I. Romae, Typis Antonii de Rubeis apud Pantheon in via Seminarii Romani, 1736.
[bound with:]
Venerio, Fortunato. Sanctissimo Patri ac Domino Nostro Clementi XII Pont. Opt. Max. Humanae Infirmitatis Robur;idest De Divina Gratia.Auctore D.FortunatoVenerio,Presbytero Congregationis C.R. S. pauli Barnabita &c. Dogmatico-Scholasticarum Quaestionum.Tomus II. Romae, Ex Typographia Petri Rosati, & Josephi Borgiani in via Parionis, 1737.
[together with:]
Venerio, Fortunato. Sanctissimo Patri ac Domino Nostro Clementi XII Pont. Opt. Max. De Deo Homine Quaestiones Scholasticae, Dogmatica, Historicae. Auctore D. Fortunato Venerio, Presbytero Barnabita &c.Tomus III. Romae, Ex Typographia Petri Rosati, & Josephi Borgiani in via Parionis, 1738.
[bound with:]
Venerio, Fortunato. Sanctissimo Patri ac Domino Nostro Clementi XII Pont. Opt. Max. De Deo Uno et Trino Quaestiones Scholastico-Dogmaticae, Historicae. Auctore D. Fortunato Venerio, Presbytero Barnabita &c.Tomus IV. Romae, Ex Typographia Petri Rosati, & Josephi Borgiani in via Parionis, 1738.

4 volumes bound in 2 folio volumes, stiff vellum with handwritten title at spine, cc. (8), pp. 380 for the first volume; cc. (8), 346 for the second; cc. (8), pp. 382, cc. (1, bianca) for the third; cc. (8), pp. 324 for the fourth. papal coats of arms of Clemens XII at title-page, woodcut headletters, woodcut head and -tail pieces.

Extremely scarce first edition of the first four volumes of Venerio’s collected works, based on scholasticism: the first one is devoted to the Faith; the second one to the Grace; the third deals with questions and reflections on God and the fourth is devoted to the Trinity. Between 1739 and 1741, the author edited four others volumes.

Provenance: Ex-libris Cesare Maria De Vecchi, conte di Val Cismon, engraved by Bramanti at recto of front cover. Cesare Maria De Vecchi, 1st Conte di Val Cismon (1884-1959) was an Italian soldier, colonial administrator and Fascist politician. After graduating in jurisprudence he became a successful lawyer in Turin. His stance on the First World War was interventionist, and he himself took part in the final events of the conflict. On his return to Italy he gave his support to the National Fascist Party, in which he would consistently represent the monarchical and ‘moderate’ wing. He became president of the Turin war veterans and head of the local Fascist squadre. In 1921, he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies. De Vecchi became Commander General of the Milizia , was one of the quadrumvirs who organised the March on Rome, and sought to persuade Antonio Salandra to enter into Benito Mussolini’s government.

THE MILAN CONSTITUTIONS AND THE HISTORY OF LAW IN MILAN

Verri, Gabriele.Constitutiones dominii Mediolanensis, decretis et senatus-consultis nunc primum illustratae curante comite Gabriele Verro ... Editio undecima caeteris uberior, atque utilior, accessit prodromus de origine, et progressu juris Mediolanensis eodem authoreMediolani (Milan), In Regiâ Curiâ sumptibus Joseph Richini Malatestae Regii Typographi, 1747.
BOUND WITH:
Verri, Gabriele.De ortu et progressu juris Mediolanensis antiqui et novi. Mediolani (Milan), In Regiâ Curiâ sumptibus Joseph Richini Malatestae Regii Typographi, 1747.Small folio, contemporary stiff vellum with ochre label and gilt-lettered title at spine, pp. [16], clxvii, [21], 202, [4], 208, [68].
Engraved device at title-page; engraved head-pieces and head-letters.

Beautiful edition of Verri's collection of Milan Constitutions: the work is bound with his historical account on the birth and evolution of law in Milan.

Gabriele Verri (1695-1782) was a Milan jurist, politician and magistrate. In legislative policy he held a conservative attitude: on the contrary, his three sons Pietro, Alessandro and Carlo were three leading figures of Italian Enlightenment.

References: Fontana, vol. II, p. 197. OCLC 14086335.

A TREATISE BY VINNIUS ON THE ROMAN LAW OF CONTRACTS, INHERITANCE, SUCCESSION AND OTHER CIVIL MATTERS

Vinnen, Arnold. Arnoldi Vinnii JC. tractatus quinque, nempe de pactis, jurisdictione, collationibus, transactionibus, et quaestionibus juris selectis. Cum indicibus locupletissimis. Quibus additae sunt Sim. Vinnii A.f. orationes. Editio novissima prioribus emendatior. Venetiis: Ex Typographia Balleoniana, 1780.

4to (250x195 mm), contemporary paperboards; pp. VIII, 352. Title-page with red and black types and with a xylographic ornament. Text in Latin in two columns. Xylogaphic initials, ornaments, head- and final-pieces.

Arnold Vinnen (Vinnius; Monster 1588 - Leiden 1657), jurist, prof. Pandette University of Leiden (1633-57); one of the greatest masters of the Dutch school. Main works: Jurisprudentiae contractae sive partitionum Juris Civilis libri IV (1631); In quatuor libros Institutionum imperialium commentarius (1642); Iustiniani institutionum libros quattuor cum notis illustrated (1646); Tractatus de quattuor pactis de iurisdictione, collationibus et transactionibus (1651).

Simon Vinnen, son of Arnold [A.f.], was a philologist.

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\BVEE\057826. OCLC, 23112624 (2 copies in USA).

A TREATISE BY VINNIUS ON ROMAN CIVIL LAW, WITH VARIOUS COMMENTS SUITABLE FOR FORENSIC USE

Vinnen, Arnold. Arnoldi Vinnii JC. Jurisprudentiae contractae, sive partitionum juris civilis libri quatuor, variis observationibus ad usum forensem accomodatis illustrati. Editio novissima, ab erroribus qui in praecedentibus irrepserant, diligenter expurgata. Venetiis: Ex Typographia Balleoniana, 1782.

4to (254x200 mm), contemporary paperboard binding; pp. XX, 428 (i.e. 426), [2]. Page 426 wrongly numbered 428.Title-page with red and black types and with a xylographic publisher device (in a decorated frame an imperial crowned double headed eagle). Xylogaphic initials, ornaments, head- and final-pieces. Text in Latin in two columns.

Arnold Vinnen (Vinnius; Monster 1588 - Leiden 1657), jurist, prof. Pandette University of Leiden (1633-57); one of the greatest masters of the Dutch school. Main works: Jurisprudentiae contractae sive partitionum Juris Civilis libri IV (1631); In quatuor libros Institutionum imperialium commentarius (1642); Iustiniani institutionum libros quattuor cum notis illustrated (1646); Tractatus de quattuor pactis de iurisdictione, collationibus et transactionibus (1651).

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\FOGE\001986. OCLC, 797751140, 84587708 (1 copy in USA, at the University of Michigan Law Library), 81399312 (1 copy in USA, at the Harvard Law School Library) and 882110122 (1 copy in Switzerland).

UNCOMMON BALLEONIANA EDITION OF THE FAMOUS COMMENTARY BY VINNIUS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTIONS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STUDIES ON JUSTINIAN INSTITUTIONS

Vinnen, Arnold. Arnoldi Vinnii JC. In quatuor libros institutionum imperialium commentarius academicus et forensis Jo. Gottl. Heineccius JC. Recensuit, et praefationem notulasque adjecit. Accedunt in hac novissima editione juxta exemplar Lugdunense adornata ejusdem Vinnii Quaestiones Juris Selectae, et praemittitur ex editione Veneta Jacobi Gothofredi historia & bibliotheca Juris Civilis Romani. Adjectis indicibus locupletissimis. Tomus primus [-tertius]. Venetiis: ex Typographia Balleoniana, 1783-1793.

8vo (250x200 mm), contemporary paperboards; 3 tomes bound in 2 vols.; pp. XXVIII, 459, [1]; IV, 387, [1], VIII, 166.
Three title-pages in black types with vignettes (a crowned double-headed eagle); head- and tail-pieces; some decorated initials; catchwords; text in double columns.
The first volume includes the Tomus primus (with liber primus and liber secundus).
The second volume includes the Tomus secundus (with liber tertius and quartus) and Tomus tertius, which has its own title:
Arnoldi Vinnii JC. Selectarum iuris quaestionum libri duo nunc primum ejusdem auctoris Commentario in institutiones Justinianaeas conjunctim editi, quibus multa commentarii loca illustrantur, ac intricatissimae iuris materiae nondum ventilatae, omnibus Legum Romanarum Candidatis utilissimae, dilucide enodantur. Editio novissima iuxta exemplar Lugdunense emendata et adornata.
The first and second tomes were issude both in 1793, while the third tome had been issued ten years earlier [Venetiis: ex Typographia Balleoniana, 1783].

Arnold Vinnen (Vinnius; Monster 1588 - Leiden 1657), jurist, prof. Pandette University of Leiden (1633-57); one of the greatest masters of the Dutch school. Main works: Jurisprudentiae contractae sive partitionum Juris Civilis libri IV (1631); In quatuor libros Institutionum imperialium commentarius (1642); Iustiniani institutionum libros quattuor cum notis illustrated (1646); Tractatus de quattuor pactis de iurisdictione, collationibus et transactionibus (1651).

Johann Gottlieb Heineccius (Heinecke) (September 11, 1681 – August 31, 1741) was a German jurist from Eisenberg, Thuringia. His chief works were: Antiquitatum Romanarum jurisprudentiam illustrantium syntagma (1718); Historia juris civilis Romani ac Germanici (1733); Elementa juris Germanici (1735); Elementa juris naturae et gentium (1737; Eng. trans. by Turnbull, 2 vols, London, 1763).

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\MILE\004434 [Tomus primus: IT\ICCU\MILE\012233. Tomus secundus: IT\ICCU\MILE\012236. Tomus tertius: IT\ICCU\MILE\004445 (3 copies)].
OCLC, 875158399 and 708653575 (1 copy in USA, at The George Washington University Law Library).

THE FIRST EMENDED EDITION

ZABARELLA, FRANCESCO. Consilia eminentissimi I.V. interprete D. Francisci Zabarellae, patritii Patauini, cardinalis Florentini, quibus nunc recens accesserunt celeberrimorum Collegiorum Bononiensis, Paduani, & Ferrariensis, & Baptistae Cacialupi a S. Seuerino, de dignitate & praerogatiua monacorum consilia singula: ... Bartholomaei Camerarii Beneuentani in causa matrimoniali consilium vnum. Omnia summa & fide & diligentia excusa. Argumentisque insuper, indiceque copiosissimo illustrata. Venetiis, apud Ioannem Baptistam a Porta, 1581.

Folio, contemporary vellum with handwritten title at spine, ff. [12] , 207 i.e. 205, [1].
Text on two columns, Roman type.

Uncommon first emended edition, after the corrections of the censor Tomas de Manrique.

Reference: Out of Italy, OCLC locates 5 copies worldwide.

FOUNDATION OF FORENSIC MEDICINE

Zacchia, Paolo.Pauli Zacchiae ... Quaestiones medico-legales : accedunt interpolationes & auctaria ex novis inventis & observationibus recentiorum auctorum [...]. Venetiis (Venice): apud Simonem Occhi, 1789.

3 parts bound in two volumes in folio, contemporary printer's paperboards.

Fourth edition of one of the founding text of forensic medicine.

Paolo Zacchia (1584-1659), a Papal physician, was one of the founder of medical jurispridence.

References: OCLC locates no copy of this edition in US libraries.

THE FATHER OF JURIDICAL HUMANISM

ZASIUS, ULRICH. De Actionibus. Lugduni, sub scuto coloniensis, 1551.

8vo (162 x 110 mm), contemporary stiff vellum, pp. [24] 396 [20].
Text in Roman and Italuc type.

A famous work on trial law, composed by the renowned German jurist, one of the fathers of the new philological approach to Justinians’s Digest known as “Juridical Humanism”.

Provenance: Some not identified annotation of a contemporary hand.

References: Baudrier V, 222; Stintzing, Zasius 351.
OCLC locates 17 copies worldwide and 4 complete copies in Italy (ICUU).

ZILETTI, GIAMBATTISTA. Consiliorum seu Responsorum ad causas criminales recens editorum ex eccellentiss. quibusque iureconsultis et veteribus et nouis, diligentia, labore, et industria Io. Baptistae Zileti ... collectorum. Tomus primus \-secundus!. Et is alius quam qui in lucem antea missus est, cum summarijs et repertorio omnium quae ad praxim necessaria sunt, per eundem Ziletum illustratus. Venetiis apud Bernardinum Zilettum et fratres , 1566-1571.

2 volumes in small folio (300 x 207 mm), ancient vellum from a 15th century palimpsest, handwritten titles at three raised bands spine, ff. [42], 208; [44], 212.
Woodcut head-letters.

Roman type, text on two columns.

A large full-page woodcut at verso of title-page of the second volume.

Scarce first edition of a famous collection of Consilia on criminal law, containing the advices of all the most important Medieval authors (Bartolo, Baldo, Jacopo da Belviso, Raffaele Fulgosio, Butrigario, Riminaldi) and also many counsels of unpublished authors. A precious source.

References: CNCE (five copies).

Reference: OCLC locates 7 copies worldwide and 10 complete copies in Italy (ICUU).