Justinianus

Royal folio (400 x 275mm.), 174 leaves, [a-h¹⁰ i⁶; k-r¹⁰ s⁸], 58 lines of commentary, text of Institutiones in gothic type with commentary in roman type, a few headings printed in red, a few 3- and 4-line initials supplied in red, manuscript quire numbers towards gutter, eighteenth-century English red morocco gilt, spine gilt in compartments, occasional light staining, blank verso of last leaf soiled, joints cracked, spine faded

Francesco Contarini, of Santa Marina (Venice?), presented by him to San Pietro Minore (?), early inscription at foot of first page; Earl of Sunderland, removed from Blenheim Palace, sale, Puttick and Simpson, July 1882, lot 6919 ("A RARE AND FINELY PRINTED EDITION"), £6-10s, to J. Rimell & Son; Sir Edward Sullivan, bookplate, his sale, Sotheby's, 31 May 1890, lot 3569 ("A FINE COPY"), £2, to Rimell; William O'Brien, bequest bookplate dated 1899

HCR 9493; BMC iv 23; GW 7584; Grosjean & O'Connell 73

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."

RARE. This is one of 7 copies recorded by ISTC; the others are in the British Library, the John Rylands Library, Florence, Naples, the Vatican, and St Gallen.

Ulrich Han, from Ingolstadt, produced books in Rome from 1467 to 1478, and he was the first printer in Rome alongside Sweynheym and Pannartz (the priority has not been established). Simon Nicolai Chardella, a merchant from Lucca, provided financial backing in the years 1471 to 1474, while the Rome book trade was in crisis. Han made a decision similar to other Italian printers at this time, in turning to the production of legal texts rather than classical and patristic books, whose overproduction had probably caused the crisis.

In this copy, the blank leaf at the end precedes the register.