GRATIANUS. Decretum.

Large folio. 428x287 mm. Magnificent contemporary brown calf binding on wooden boards, original metal clasps still preserved and working. Leaves 333 (of 335), [3]. Collation: a8 + ² b – z8 & 8 [cum] 8 [rum] 8 A-Q8. Latin text on two columns, surrounded by 82-line commentary, Gothic and Roman type. Title and Printer’s device on leaf 336 printed in red, text entirely printed in red and black. Leaves 188-189 are missing. Slight traces of humidity on the side and top margins, beautiful copy on crisp and thick paper.

Rare Venetian incunabulum. Precious and meaningful edition from the venetian workshop of Baptista de Tortis, one of the most famous italian printer of the late XVth century, renowned for the rigorous correctness and the formal beautiness of his editions. In confirmation of the printer's authority, the title in red in the first leaf is "Decretum de tortis". The Decretum is the milestone of medieval canon law: a collection of sources of canon law drawn up - and periodically updated - by Gratian and composed of several treatises with which the author resolved the antinomies that emerged in the over a thousand years of history of the juridical norms of Christianity (including conciliar decrees), between procedural, tax, civil, administrative / ordinal, criminal, penitential and sacramental matters, which over time had become conflicting with each other.