Author: GRATIANUS - Johannes TEUTONICUS - Bartolomeo da BRESCIA ( commentators ) :
Title: Decretum.
Description: Nuremberg ( Nürnberg ) , Anton Koberger, 30.XI.1493, in-folio, 34,5 x 23,5 cm, 410 leaves, coll. a-r10 s12 t-z4 A-D10 E6 F8 G10 H8 I-M10 N8 O10 P8 Q-S10 (complete, and includes the final blank leaf. ). Contemporary German binding: blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, (a few tiny wormholes), bevelled edges, spine with 3 raised bands, central and corner brass pieces ( front cover complete with the original pieces, back cover retains only 1 corner piece); brass clasps in working order. metal clasps and catches, a few fore-edge tabs and manuscript title on fore-edge. Inside with some very unobtrusive dampstaining in some blank margins, occ. light local browning. A complete and very good copy in a nicely preserved contemporary binding. Provenance: Manuscript ex-libris ''Monasterium Neustatt ad Moenam'' ( Kloster Neustatt in Mainz) on page aii (recto), with a small oval stamp of ''Fürstliche Löwenstein-Rosenbergische Canzlei-Bibliothek, also on page aii (recto). Second Koberger edition (1st 1483) of this compilation of canons by the 12th-c. Bolognese laywer Gratian, which the author himself called "Concordantia discordantium canonum". This text is one of the foundation texts of canon law and as such a milestone in the development of Western law. The text is printed in Gothic type, in 2 col., with commentary surrounding the text. Headlines, chapter headings and 2-line initials printed in red. Capital spaces with blue (and some red) rubricated initials. On the last three (blank) pages an extensive and neatly written commentary. Ref. USTC 745343 - GW 11379. - Goff G386. - Polain 1685. - BMC II:437. Fine and monumental example of the high quality attained, barely 40 years after the invention of printing with moveble types, by one of the major printers of the incunable era : Anton Koberger (1440 - 1513) . He was the first printer in Nuremberg. This title is published in the same year (1493) as his Nuremberg Chronicle - considered to be the finest publication of the incunable period. The book is entirely printed in red & black; a difficult printing method whereby each leaf had to pass 4 times under the press. .

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