[Cochlaeus, Joannes, editor]

Canones Apostolorum. Veterum Conciliorum Constitutiones. Decreta Pontificum Antiquiora. De Primatu Roman! Ecclesia!. Ex tribus uetustiss. exemplaribus transcripta omnia

      Mogunti! [Mainz]: in aedibus Ioan. Schoeffer, 1525. (SCHOEFFER, JOANNES) First edition of the Apostolic Canons. Folio. [*]4[**]6, A-I4, K-M6, N-O8, P-Z6, Aa-Ee4, Ff6,Gg8. 172 leaves. Roman type, with several fine woodcut initial capitals. Remnants of early binding (defective) with endpapers only remaining, employing contemporary hand-colored printed leaves (from Mainz?), as well as contemporary manuscripts. Sewing loosening, with several gatherings sprung. Some minor scattered worming in margins, dampstaining to last 11 leaves. Owners' inscriptions on title. In half morocco slipcase and chemise. Adams C-542 ("The collection of Dionysius Exiguus"); RLIN (finds 4 copies); OCLC 3336327 (9 locations) . A rare and beautiful printing by the son of the celebrated Peter Schoeffer of Mainz. Johann Schoeffer (c. 1468-1531) continued and expanded his father's business, and his extensive list includes works by Erasmus and other humanists, as well as liturgical works and editiones principes of Latin classics (it was in the preface to his edition of Livy of 1523 that Schoeffer attributed the invention of printing to Gutenburg in Mainz in 1450). The present work is of the utmost importance in the history of Canon Law, being the first printing of the famous collection of Dionysus Exiguus, the 6th-century monk whose translations into Latin of the ancient canons of the Church down to the Council of Carthage (419) , along with his his compilation of Papal Decrees (known together as the "Collectio Dionysiana") marked the beginnings of Canon Law