Bonifacius VIII's Liber sextus decretalium

Bonifacius VIII's Liber sextus decretalium
Heinrich Eggestein, about 1473
BONIFACIUS VIII, Pope (formerly Benedetto Gaetano, c.1235-1303). Liber sextus decretalium. Commentary by Johannes Andreae (c.1271-1348). [Strasbourg: Heinrich Eggestein, c.1473.]

Third edition of Boniface’s highly important continuation of Gregory IX’s Decretals, a fundamental text of canon law, in a contemporary binding. The Liber sextus decretalium was commissioned by Pope Boniface VIII and sent out to the universities in 1298. All early editions are rare on the market. This Eggestein edition has also been considered the second edition, accorded precedence by Goff and GW, but is now widely regarded as the third. HC 3583*; BMC I 70; BSB-Ink B-700; GW 4849; Bod-inc B-460; CIBN B-694; Goff B-977; ISTC ib00977000.

Royal folio (416 x 294mm). 199 leaves (of 201, without final blank and blank h6). Printed in red and black. Initials in red, blue, and purple, paragraph marks and capital strokes in red (some dampstaining, browning, and chipping mostly at ends, a few wormholes). Contemporary reversed calf, brass catchplates, remains of paper label on spine (worn, with loss of spine, a little worming). Provenance: Regensburg, Convent of St. Salvator of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, the gift of Stephanus Klobenstamus and his wife Margareta with the assistance of Brother Joannes of the same community (inscription) – Theodore Low De Vinne (1828-1914, American typographer and one of the founders of the Grolier Club; bookplate, his sale, Anderson Galleries, 12-16 January 1920, lot 564) – acquired from Lathrop C. Harper, Inc, New York, 12 July 1957.