GRATIANUS. Decretum. Lot n° 9

GRATIANUS. Decretum.Venetiis, per Baptistam de Tortiis, XXX martii, 1496 [Venice, Baptista de Tortis, Mar 30, 1496]. Large folio. 428x287 mm. Magnificent coeval brown leather binding on wooden boards, original metal clasps still preserved and working. 335 papers, [3]. Marking: a⁸+² b-z⁸ &⁸ [cum]⁸ [rum]⁸ A-Q⁸. Latin text in two columns, surrounded by commentary of 82 lines, Gothic and Roman typeface. Title and letterpress mark on paper 336 printed in red, text entirely printed in red and black. Slight traces of moisture on side and top margins, nice copy on strong crisp paper. Rare Venetian incunabulum. Valuable and significant edition from the Venetian workshop of Baptista de Tortis, one of the most famous Italian printers of the late 15th century, renowned for the rigorous correctness and formal beauty of his editions. Confirming the authority of the printer, the title in red in the buttonhole is "Decretum de tortis." The Decretum is the cornerstone of medieval canon law: a collection of sources of canon law compiled - and periodically updated - by Gratian and composed of multiple treatises by which the author resolved the antinomies that had emerged in the more than one thousand years of history of legal norms in Christendom (including conciliar decrees), between procedural, tax, civil, administrative/ordinal, penal, penitential and sacramental subjects, which had become conflicting over time. Goff G-388; H 7915* = 7904 (?); BMC V, 329; BSB-Ink G-283; GW 11383; Voull(B) 3950; IBP 2466; Borm 1179; Sack(Freiburg) 1600; Pad-Ink 286. Large folio. 428x287 mm. Magnificent contemporary brown calf binding on wooden boards, original metal clasps still preserved and working. Leaves 335, [3]. Collation: a⁸ + ² b - z⁸ & ⁸ [cum] ⁸ [rum] ⁸ A-Q⁸. Latin text on two columns, surrounded by 82-line commentary, Gothic and Roman type. Title and Printer's device on leaf 336 printed in red, text entirely printed in red and black. Slight traces of humidity on the side and top margins, beautiful copy on crisp and thick paper. Rare Venetian incunabulum. Precious and meaningful edition from the Venetian workshop of Baptista de Tortis, one of the most famous Italian printer of the late fifteenth century, renowned for the rigorous correctness and the formal beautiness of his editions. In confirmation of the printer's authority, the title in red in the first leaf is "Decretum de tortis." The Decretum is the milestone of medieval canon law: a collection of sources of canon law drawn up - and periodically updated - by Gratian and composed of several treatises with which the author resolved the antinomies that emerged in the over a thousand years of history of the juridical norms of Christianity (including conciliar decrees), between procedural, tax, civil, administrative / ordinal, criminal, penitential and sacramental matters, which over time had become conflicting with each other.