Rosarium Decretorum, Venice, 1481

1481. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1481.. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1481. 1481 Printing of an Important Commentary on Gratian with Handsome Penwork [Baysio, Guido de (d. 1313)]. [Moneliensis, Franciscus, Editor]. [Rosarium Decretorum]. [Venice: Johannes Herbort de Seligenstadt for Johannes de Colonia, Nicolaus Jenson, Et Socie, 3 April 1481]. [415] ff. Lacking final leaf, a blank. Collation: a10, b8, c-d10, d-l8, m-n6, o-tuvx8, y10, z8, ?8, ?10, ?-aa8, bb-cc10, dd-dd8, ee-gg10, ggg-hh8, hhh8, ii10, kk-mm8, nn-qq10, rr8, ss6. Folio (40 x 28cm; 10-3/4" x 15-1/2"). Eighteenth-century calf, raised bands, "A L" in small type blind-stamped to foot of front board, blind ornaments and lettering piece to spine, edges speckled, endpapers renewed. Light rubbing and some minor nicks and scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, chipping to head of spine, corners bumped and somewhat worn, joints and hinges just starting at head, crack in text block between fol. a1 and a2 (fols. 1-2). 66-line text in parallel columns, 4 large illuminated acanthus initials, one of which with partial border, the other 2 with smaller flourishes, 2 smaller illuminated initials, other red and blue initials and red capital strokes, woodcut printer's device printed in red. Light toning, occasional faint dampstaining to foot of text block, some soiling and light dampstaining to leaf a1 (fol. 1), illuminated borders on first leaf trimmed, lower corner torn away, minor interior tear to printer's device. Bookplate of Alexandre P. Rosenberg, designed by Pablo Picasso, to front pastedown, Rosenberg's brief typewritten book description, with Goff number added in pencil, laid in, owner signature dated 1672 to head of leaf a2 (fol. 2). $29,000. * The Concordia Discordantia Canonum, or Decretum Gratiani, is the cornerstone of modern canon law and one of the components of the Corpus Juris Canonici. The first work of its kind, it was supposedly compiled by Gratian, a Camaldolese monk, around 1140. It addresses various aspects of legal jurisdiction as well as administrative issues like baptism and feast days. Guido de Baysio, also known as Archidiaconus, was a canonist, law professor and church official. He ended his career as archdeacon and chancellor of the University of Bologna. Written around 1300, his Rosarium Decretorum is an important commentary on Gratian's work. First printed in Strasbourg in 1472, it went thr.