Casus longi super quinque libros decretalium. By Bernard of Botone. Strasbourg: Printer of the 1483 Jordanus de Quedlinburg (i.e. Georg Husner), 1484, small folio.
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A finely rubricated incunable which is well represented institutionally but is extremely rare in commerce, though only two copies are held in the UK, with just four in the US. This is the first edition of this work printed by Georg Husner who printed this an impressive four times in the incunable period (1484, 1488, 1493, and 1498), attesting to its importance and popularity for a single printer to have such an output for one title. An unsophisticated copy of the third print by Husner (1493) without rubrication recently appeared at Christie's Fine Books Auction 27th June 2024 lot 14, but here is the more desirable first Husner edition very finely rubricated throughout with a particularly attractive entrance initial with marginal decoration. This is an extensive commentary on Catholic canon law by Duranti's teacher, Bernard de Botone (also known as Bernard of Palma). He was a Papal chaplain to two Popes: Innocent IV and Alexander IV.
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Size: 200 x 293 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), [228], (1)]
Circa 18th century full calf, a little rubbed with some loss. Spine tooled in gilt in compartments between raised bands, tooled morocco label laid down. Leather slightly dry, but presents very well indeed on the shelf. Both boards are securely attached and the binding is secure, very slightly cocked, but stands without shelf lean. Collates as complete, despite having no signatures or pagination, the total number of leaves present is correct according to USTC and the text follows that of the digitised copy at Erfurt University. This copy has one original blank at the rear, as well as two circa 18th century blanks (watermarked), contemporary with the binding - one at the front and one at the rear. Two preliminary leaves including title leaf, the Tabula begins on the verso of the title. Small marginal staining from leaves 128-160, not affecting any text, with a few odd marks through the text, but generally exceptionally bright and clean throughout. The text block is very slightly trimmed but never catches any text or headers, but does shave off a few mm of marginalia (handwritten marginalia that is) in one place. Small hole to upper right corner of first four leaves, just catching a letter or two of text on the second leaf (Tabula) else without loss. Very finely rubricated throughout the full text, a few areas of small marginalia (circa 17th century) but generally exceptionally clean throughout. Bookseller sticker to recto of front free endpaper with "1484" written at foot, and "impressum anno 1484" written in pencil on verso of this same leaf. Two inscriptions to title leaf recto, one dated 1629 and another dated 1641 below it. Title leaf partially detached in gutter (pictured) but extant; the part visibly lacking here is extant but folded up on the verso.
A very well preserved copy of this scarce incunable.
[USTC 743419; Goff B457; Pell 2194; Bod-inc B212; Pr 589; GW M 4095; ISTC ib00457000].
