Gregory's Decretales

Gregory's Decretales
Paganinus de Paganinis, 1489
GREGORIUS IX, Pope (formerly known as Ugolino, Count of Segni, c.1148-1241). Decretales, cum glossa. Venice: Paganinus de Paganinis, 10 August 1489.

Illuminated copy of the essential legal text, in a contemporary binding. In 1230 Pope Gregory IX ordered his chaplain, Raymond of Peñafort, to form a new collection of canonical laws. The project took four years to complete, and the result was this text, containing 1,971 chapters which incorporate parts of earlier laws, reclassifying some and deleting the obsolete. H 8024*; BMC V 455; BSB-Ink G-350; GW 11478; IGI 4466; Goff G-464; ISTC ig00464000.

Royal folio (416 x 255mm). 235 leaves (of 236, without final blank). Printed in red and black throughout. Illuminated portrait of Gregory, illuminated initial, and floral border with two armorial designs on first text leaf, illuminated miniatures of Gregory on first leaves of books 2 and 3, illuminated initials with floral decorations at openings of books 2, 3, 4, and 5, blue Lombard capitals (mostly marginal staining and spotting, a few dampstains, a few leaves partially sprung). Contemporary blindstamped pigskin over wooden boards, brass catchplate, remains of some index tabs (lacking straps and furniture). Provenance: occasional marginal comments – acquired from Lathrop C. Harper, Inc, New York, 29 May 1957.