Lugduni, Ioannem Francisc. de Gabiano, 1551, 2 parts in 1 volume, in-folio (33 x 21,5 cm. or 12.99 x 8.47 in.), 6 preliminary leaves not numbered, 235 ff. numbered and 1 leave not numbered, 205 ff. numbered and 27 leaves not numbered (Index Alphabeticus), contremporary full brown calf (quite rubbed, leather restorations on the 3 upper compartments, on joints and corners), spine raised on 5 bands underlined by gilt fillets, gilt fillets around sides, sprinkled egdges.
Edition which is quite scarce and which very few American and European libraries owned. This collection of French court of justice is the most estimated work of the jurisconsult and mortar president of Bordeaux Parliament, Nicolas de Bohier, Viscount of Pommiers (Montpellier 1469 - Bordeaux 1539). The utility and the reputation of this collection of awards and sentences which touch the canon law as well as the criminal law explain its successive reprintings until the end of the 17th century. The first edition was printed in 1547 by the father-in-law of Jean-François de Gabiano (1519-1562), the bookseller Michel Parmentier. This treatise is enriched by three title pages whom both first and second carry the mark of Scipion de Gabiano, eldest brother of Jean-François de Gabiano. The mark of the third title page is one of the Lyons bookseller, Denis de Harsy who collaborated a long time with the Gabiano. Pretty allegorical reference letters and head piece (2) representing Nicolaus Boerius discoursing with other lawyers. Brownings at the lower left blank corners of the first thirty leaves with small paper loss. Some clear waterstains or minor rust stains on the lower part or the fore edges of some leaves. Some words are underlined with contemporary browned ink. Our copy belonged (owner's inscriptions on title and colophon) to the poet Claude Chapuys or Chappuys (Amboise 1500 - 1572) which was the manservant and librarian of the French king François Ier. This book carries also near the owner's name the number 249 which probably refers to the number of books that owned the poet. Marot regarded Claude Chapuis as one of the best poet of his time. The works of this last author are extremely difficult to find today. Cft. Baudrier, Bibliogr. Lyonnaise, septième série, pp. 192-193 .