Provinciale [Prouinciale] Seu Constitutiones Anglie cum Summariis..

1501. A Principal English Treatise on Canon Law [Lyndwood, William (c.1375-1446)]. [Badius, Josse (1462-1535), Editor]. Provinciale seu Constitutiones Anglie cum Summariis Atq[ue] Iustis Annotationibus: Honestis Characteribus: Summaq[ue] Accuratione Rursum Impresse. [Paris: Printed by Andreas Bocard at the University of Paris, May 28, 1501]. Collation: a8 b6, c-g8 h6 i-q8 r6 s-z8 [et]8 [con]6 A-B6 C8(-C8). cxcii, [19] ff. Complete. Main text surrounded by two-column linear gloss. Folio 13-1/2" x 9-1/2." Contemporary paneled calf, corner fleurons and large arabesques to boards, recently rebacked, raised bands and lettering piece to spine, endpapers added, early hand-lettered title to fore-edge. A few shallow scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to their extremities, corners bumped and somewhat worn, hinges cracked, later bookseller ticket, owner bookplate (of Walter Wigglesworth, dated 1934) and two 1930s-era auction or bookseller descriptions affixed to front pastedown. Text printed in red and black gothic type, woodcut decorated initials. Light toning to text, faint dampstaining in places, minor edgewear to leaves at beginning and end of text, some with repairs, inkstains and spark burns to a few leaves. Contemporary annotations to endleaves and portions of text, some with minor loss due to trimming. A nice post-incunable copy of an important title. $4,500. * First post-1500 edition. Main text followed by nineteen-page, two-part index (Tabula). Compiled around 1433 and first published around 1483-1485, Provinciale is the main authority for early English canon law. Divided into five books, it is a digest of the synodal constitutions of the province of Canterbury, from the period of Archbishop Stephen Langton [c.1155-1228] to that of Archbishop Henry Chichele [1414-1443], with Lyndwood's gloss. It is considered the law of the Church of England by some authorities. This copy was printed in Paris for the English market. Beale, A Bibliography of Early English Law Books T403. English Short-Title Catalogue S103845.