GRATIANUS (d. c.1160). Decretum. Venice: Baptista de Tortis, 30 March 1496.

Gratian’s important text on canon law—illuminated and in a contemporary binding. A collection of nearly 4,000 patristic texts, conciliar decrees and Papal pronouncements touching on all fields of church discipline, the Decretum quickly became the authoritative text on canon law, and forming the first part of the Corpus juris canonici. At least 33 incunable editions of Gratian's landmark work are recorded. Practically nothing is known of Gratian's life; he probably became a monk at some stage, although where is unknown and he may have been a consultant to a Papal judge in 1143. Gratian is assigned a place in Paradise by Dante. H 7915* = 7904 (?); BMC V 329; BSB-Ink G-282; GW 11382; IGI 4413; Goff G-388; ISTC ig00388000.

Super-royal folio (427 x 292mm). 336 leaves (of 338, lacking 2 leaves of tabula). Printed in red and black throughout. Illuminated portrait of Gratian with a book, smaller initial H on gold ground with floral decoration, smaller blue initials, woodcut printer’s device in red (some worming affecting text and portrait, dampstain towards end). Contemporary Freiburg blindstamped calf over wooden boards [Kyriss 173, EBDB w000104, Vogel-Rolle II], (boards worn with losses, lacking bosses, worming, top and bottom panels of spine missing). Provenance: Chiemsee, Herrenworth of St Ulrich (17th-century inscription) – acquired from Bernard M. Rosenthal, Inc, New York, 15 December 1960.