Gregory IX, Pope; Corpus Juris Canonici

Compilatio Decretalium Gregorii Noni

      1482. Gregory IX, Pope [1147? -1241]. [Corpus Juris Canonici]. Compilatio Decretalium Gregorii Noni. [Venice: Impressum Cura Impensisq(ue) Pietri Cremonensis, 24 April 1482]. 509 ff. Main text in parallel columns with linear glosses. Collation: A-Y8, aa-kk8, X4, 2a-s8, AA-NN8 [A1 and NN8, both blanks, lacking; replaced with recent endleaves. Duplicates of leaves AA3-6 bound between kk6 and kk7]. 58-line Gothic type, one initial letter illuminated in silver, with penned red floriate surround, two to four-line capitals in red and blue, a few lines printed in red. Quarto (in 8s) (9-1/2" x 7"). Modern period-style half calf with decorative blind stamping over wooden boards, raised bands to spine, endpapers renewed. Title lightly soiled, faint marginal stain to first 30 leaves, cracks in text between text block and free endpapers (text quite secure), minor worm holes to margins of a few leaves. Extensive contemporary annotations in miniscule hand to all but a few leaves. A desirable volume due to its annotations, rubrications, handsome binding and overall condition. * "Decretals are letters containing a papal ruling, particularly one relating to canonical discipline, and most precisely a papal prescript in response to an appeal...the Decretals of Gregory IX are the first authentic general collection of papal Decretals and constitutions, compiled by Raymond of Penaforte at the request of Pope Gregory IX in 1230-34 and promulgated in 1234. (...) It gave rise to a vast amount of commentaries and literature" (Walker). Gregory's Decretales is one of the four works known collectively as the Corpus Juris Canonici, a collection of papal decisions concerning ecclesiastical hierarchy, procedure, the functions and duties of clerks, marriage, and crime. This edition predates the Reformation-inspired Correctores Romani (1580-1582), which was definitive until the enactment of the Code of Canon Law (1918). Walker, The Oxford Companion to Law 177-179. Goff, Incunabula in American Libraries...