SANCTO NAZARIO (Jo. Franciscus de, alias de Ripa). - Lot 96

SANCTO NAZARIO (Jo. Franciscus de, alias de Ripa). Celeberrimi atqz acutissimi iureconsulti Do. Jo. Francisci de sancto nazario dicti de Ripa doctoris Papiensis iura interpretantis in florenti achademia Avenionensis de peste libri tres. Avignon, Jehan de Channey, 1522. In-4°, cold-stamped brown calf, a set of squares, rectangles, lozenges enclosing a series of motifs in relief on a background of crushed and blackened leather, a technique characteristic of the period, ribbed spine, later laces (period binding). Title in a large wood frame with vignette on verso, 27 ff. (including title), 162 ff. (With, on verso of last, Channey's mark imitated that of the Aldes), 1 f. errata. Very rare first edition of this treatise on the plague addressed to the people of Avignon by the jurist Gianfrancesco Riva di San Nazzaro (c. 1480-1535). Very fine Gothic printing by the printer Jean de Channey, "the most glorious name in Avignon typography, whose products are still so sought-after by enthusiasts" (Deschamps). "The plague, after having disappeared for more than a hundred years, reappeared in Avignon around 1506 and lasted, with more or less long intervals, for almost two centuries..." (J. Bauer). (J. Bauer). Deschamps, Dictionnaire de géographie, 141 - Brunet, V, 119 -J. Bauer, "La peste chez les juifs d'Avignon", Revue des études juives, 1897 pp. 251-262. Handwritten ex libris at the beginning and end of the volume, old handwritten annotations on the endpapers, the first glued to the binding, and a few in the text, rare underlining, light marginal banding to q. ff., otherwise a very fine copy in its contemporary binding. Restoration: spine skilfully rebacked with gaps filled, one corner restored.