Descrizione

With engr. figured title by p. Giffart after C. le Brun, 2 engr. pictorial head-pieces and large figured intitials, several ornamental head- and tail-pieces; large engr. folding plate, 3 almost full-page engr. portraits, a few small text-woodcuts. 36 unn. leaves, 1448 columns; 4 unn. leaves, 1660 columns. Folio. 18th-century full calf, spines richly gilt with gilt lettering (spine ends and corners rest.). Paris, Muguet, 1677. First edition of this publication of earliest texts and statutes pertaining to the Merovingian and Carolingian rulers, "a landmark in the history of early medieval law". Etienne Baluze (1630-1718), historian and librarian to Jean-Baptiste Colbert for thirty-three years, was professor of canon law at the Royal College, later its director. He was also a bibliophile and collector of Grolier bindings. - Old inscriptions on titles and paste-downs, nice copy. - Brunet I, 630; Quérard, La France littéraire, I, 166. HISTORY (KULTURGESCHICHTE) ;