Dionysius Gothofredus - Corpus Juris Civilis - 1688

Dionysius Gothofredus – Corpus Juris Civilis – Caspar Merian – Complete copy in original pigskin binding – 1688

Description
Impressive and complete 17th-century edition of the Corpus Juris Civilis, the monumental collection of Roman law originating from the codification undertaken under Emperor Justinian I.

Edited and annotated by the celebrated jurist Denis Godefroy (Dionysius Gothofredus, 1549–1622), with additional notes by Franciscus Modius.

Published in Frankfurt am Main in 1688, by Sumptibus Societatis, and printed by Balthasar Christoph Wust the Elder.

The volume is preserved in its substantial contemporary blind-tooled pigskin binding over boards, with raised spine bands and surviving original clasps and metal fittings.

A particularly attractive feature is the elaborate engraved allegorical title page by Caspar Merian, signed in the plate “Casp. Merian fecit.”

The volume is complete.

An interesting historical ownership inscription appears on the front endpaper:

“Ex Libris Vincentii Antonii Schmidt
Juris Utriusque Auditoris
Anno 1758.”

This documents the ownership of Vincentius Antonius Schmidt in 1758, providing an attractive 18th-century provenance for the volume.

Condition

The interior is generally well preserved considering the age of the book, with normal age-related toning, occasional staining, foxing and signs of use.

The original 17th-century binding shows substantial wear. The pigskin is rubbed, cracked and damaged in places, particularly around the spine and joints.

Importantly, the front board is almost completely detached and is presently held to the book block by only two remaining original sewing/binding supports.

The board should therefore be handled with great care.
Despite the binding damage, the original binding, clasps and metal fittings have been preserved. No modern repair has been made to the loose board.

Historical handwritten ownership inscriptions and other traces of use are present, adding to the history and character of this more than 300-year-old volume.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description.

Details
Author / editor: Dionysius Gothofredus (Denis Godefroy)
Work: Corpus Juris Civilis – In quatuor partes distinctum
Additional notes: Franciscus Modius
Place of publication: Frankfurt am Main
Publisher: Sumptibus Societatis
Printer: Balthasar Christoph Wust the Elder
Year: 1688
Language: Latin
Illustration: Engraved allegorical title by Caspar Merian
Binding: Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over boards with original clasps and fittings
Completeness: Complete

Provenance: Ownership inscription of Vincentius Antonius Schmidt, dated 1758

Dimensions: approx. 28 × 22 cm
Weight: approx. 2.6 kg