Gratianus

Super-Royal folio (400 x 255mm.), 409 leaves (of 411), a-r¹⁰s¹² t-z [et] [con] [rum] aa-bb¹⁰ cc⁶ dd⁸ ee¹⁰ ff⁸; gg-kk¹⁰ ll LL⁸ mm-oo¹⁰ pp¹⁰⁺¹, double column, 72 lines of commentary plus headline, gothic type, printed in red and black, 1- to 10-line initials supplied in red or blue (some with printed guides), red and blue paraphs, printed and manuscript chapter numbers, front flyleaf containing a manuscript list of decreta, later binding reusing a bifolium of a thirteenth-century vellum manuscript containing text from Joannes Balbus's Catholicon (letters Or-Os), in modern brown buckram folding box with a folder of printed and manuscript material extracted from the binding, lacking initial blank and final leaf containing register, first few leaves friable (with no loss of text), small stain at head of b7 obscuring a few letters, headlines cut close (a few shaved or cropped), occasional light staining or foxing, final leaf laid down, binding repaired with slight loss to spine

Ambrosius Zier, inscription on front pastedown; "Ad Bibl. Acad. Land.", stamp on first leaf, i.e. the University library of Landshut (Bavaria); "Dpl", pencil note on front old flyleaf, i.e. duplicate from the Munich Royal Library; Law Society, armorial bookplate

Goff G366; HC 7890; BMC v 177; Bod-inc G-182; GW 11357

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Gratian's compilation of canon law from the twelfth century organised the numerous papal and conciliar decrees into a rational order. Although ISTC records more than 70 copies surviving (many of which are also lacking the register), we have found no auction records for this particular edition. This is at least the seventh edition, and the second to be printed by Jenson following his edition of 1474.

The printed and manuscript material extracted from the binding includes a letter in Latin addressed to Michael Hirnpos, some fragments of a German volume printed in red and black with coloured armorials and a portion of a coloured woodcut view of Augsburg, probably from Bucelin's Topo-Choro-Stemmato-Graphica Sacra et Profana (Augsburg: J. Praetorius, 1655), a sheet of printer's waste containing a German biblical commentary, and a letter relating to Straubing (Bavaria).