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an old book with a black and white drawing on itan old brown book sitting on top of a white surfacean open book with a page of text on itan open book with a black and white image of a cross on it
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Estimate €2,000 - €2,500
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Description
Law - Law books Charles VII, King of France Pragmatica Sanctio. Cosmas Guymier, by adding his notes and associating himself with the earlier editions of this codex, will be recognised as its interpreter … With a large publisher’s mark on the title page and several woodcut initials decorated with foliage. Paris, Jean Barbier for Geoffroy de Marnef, December 1514. 205 (CCV) numbered leaves, 43 unnumbered leaves (sign. Gamma 6–8, A–E8). Smoothed 18th-century calfskin binding in four bands, with gold-stamped Title on leather label, double gold-embossed fillets on the front and spine, the latter divided into 5 sections, each additionally decorated with a flower, and a speckled edge on the reverse (partly with missing binding, rubbed and scuffed). A very rare early print of the ‘Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges’, annotated by a knowledgeable contemporary hand. – Brunet IV, 856 and Renouard, III, 217 (both refer only to the edition by Jean Petit). - Extremely rare on the market; we have only been able to trace two further copies at auctions (2023, 1971). A slightly less rare title edition bearing Jean Petit’s publisher’s mark was also published at the same time (cf. the digital copy in Munich, BSB, call no. J.can.f. 25). - A body of laws enacted by Charles VII in 1438 to strengthen the French clergy whilst simultaneously curtailing papal power; this edition features the glosses by Cosme Guymier (d. 1503), which are paradigmatic for the Parisian humanist school of law. Guymier’s commentary, which is also enriched by numerous manicles in the print and whose first name (spelt ‘Cosmas’) is introduced on the title page in red ink with an acrostic, was first published in 1486. Although a member of the Parisian faculty, Guymier, remarkably, spares neither the Pope nor the King in his commentary. Includes a 43-leaf subject index by Pierre Cambafort and Jean Chappuis. - Numerous underlinings, multi-line marginal notes and additional annotations by a knowledgeable contemporary reader in red or brown ink. - The book block was trimmed during binding in the 18th century, resulting in the loss of text in the margins in places. Title page and verso of the last leaf bear owner’s inscriptions in a contemporary hand (including ‘Arnery’) and another from the 17th century. Leaves i–x show slight browning, finger-stains and soiling in places; otherwise a fresh copy of this typographically remarkable rarity, notable for its large publisher’s logo, the two-colour black-and-red title page featuring an acrostic, and the attractive Gothic typeface. Rare early print of the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, annotated by a knowledgeable contemporary hand, illustrated with a large publisher’s woodcut device on the title page and several woodcut initials decorated with tendrils. Bound in 18th-century full calf with gilt spine title. - For references, see above. - A body of laws enacted by King Charles VII in 1438 to strengthen the French clergy and restrict papal power, here with glosses by Cosme Guymier (died 1503), which were groundbreaking for the Parisian humanist school of law. Guymier’s commentary, whose first name (printed as ‘Cosmas’) is also featured on the title page in red ink with an acrostic, first appeared in 1486 and, in this edition, is further enhanced by numerous manicules in the print. Although a member of the Paris faculty, Guymier remarkably spares neither the pope nor the king. Includes a 43-page subject index by Pierre Cambafort and Jean Chappuis. – Extremely rare on the market; we have been able to trace only two other copies at auction (2023, 1971). A slightly less rare edition appeared bearing the publisher’s imprint of Jean Petit (cf. the digital copy in Munich, BSB, call number J.can.f. 25). – Heavy underlining, multi-line marginalia and additional manicules by a knowledgeable contemporary reader in red and brown ink. - The book block was trimmed during binding in the 18th century, resulting in some loss of text in the marginalia. The title page and the verso of the last page bear the owner’s remarks in a contemporary hand (‘Arnery’?) and another hand from the 17th century. Pages i–x are slightly browned, with some finger and dirt stains in places; otherwise, this is a fresh copy of this typographically remarkable rarity, characterised by the large publisher’s woodcut mark, the black and red printed title page with an acrostic, and the attractive Gothic typeface. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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