Beschreibung:

MANUSCRIPTS-LEGAL-PALAEOGRAPHICAL SPECIMENS] A collection of leaves on vellum from manuscripts of works on Canon and Roman law, dating from approximately the 11th/12th to 14th centuries. Housed in a bookseller's folder, now defective, retained within a later custom solander case. Approximately 21 leaves in all (including two bifolia), the largest single leaf about 16 x 10 1/2 inches (41 x 33 cm), most loose (a few fragments attached to sheets of card). Mostly binder's waste, thus in variable condition, some severely browned and stained, other examples almost perfect. University of Michigan Law School, withdrawn circa 1950 (with stamp), originally purchased 8-17-29 from Karl Wilhelm Hiersemann, (1854 -1928), the renowned German bookseller and publisher (with small pencil note and cataloguing information mounted to inner cover of the original sleeve). Among the specimens are (a) one described as Handelt von den inquisitors i.e. "Acts of the Inquisitors" 14th century, 41 x 33 cm; (b) An early manuscript of Poletus Historia Fori Romani restituta, which no doubt significantly precedes the first printed edition of this work on Roman legal practice, 29 x 19 cm (once part of a binding with spine impression); (c) Cutting from a Augustine's Commentary with a large ornate red initial, from a monumental manuscript in Latin, Northern France or Low Countries, XIth-XII century, bifolium, 45 x 33 cm. The decoration of the initial is simple, perhaps Cistercian, and points towards examples from Northern France; (d) Canonical law leaf of Clement III, 45 x 35 cm; (e) Ubaldis's Super decretalibus 50 x 38 cm with a very early commentary; the balance, various other fragments of legal manuscripts. The whole represents a remarkable opportunity to study the creation, palaeography and transmission of legal texts prior to the earliest printed editions of the works. C