Les Coustumes Generales des Pays et Duche de Bretagne, 3 Parts, 1651

1651. Rennes, 1651. 16mo.. Rennes, 1651. 16mo. A Rare Three-Part Pocket-Sized Breton Coutumier [Brittany]. Les Coustumes Generales des Pays et Duche de Bretaigne: Nagueres Reformees, Et Publiees aux Estats Tenus a Ploermel. Rennes: Et se Vendent, Chez Iean Vatar Marchand Libraire, 1651. 303, [2]; 111, [1]; 122, [6] pp. Three parts each with title page and individual pagination, collation register continuous. Second part titled: Les Nobles Coutumes ou Guidon, Stille et Uzances des Marchands qui Mettent a la Mer, third part titled Traicte de la Nature et Usage des Marches Separantes des Provinces de Poictou, Bretaigne, & Anjou "par M. Gabriel Hullin." 16mo. (3-1/4" x 2"). Contemporary calf, gilt rules to boards, gilt spine with raised bands, speckled edges. A few minor nicks, light rubbing to extremities, (illegible) early owner signature and later owner bookplate (R. Chardey) to front pastedown. Moderate toning to interior, crack in text block between front free endpaper and title page of first part, which is soiled and has a small faint stain and an (illegible) early owner signature. A well-preserved copy in a handsome binding. $7,500. * Scholars are unsure when the coutume of Brittany was compiled, or the names of its authors, but it was first cited officially in 1341. Its final codification was issued in 1580. It deals primarily with civil and criminal procedure and is original in many respects. It also incorporated some aspects of English law, especially in matters concerning succession of certain fiefs, and a good deal of canon law, more so than any other coutumiers. The first part of our pocket-sized edition is the text of the coutume. The second and third parts address parts of the coutume dealing with maritime law, commercial law and territorial jurisdiction. These three parts were also issued separately. OCLC locates 1 copy in a North American law library identical to ours (George Washington University). Not in Caswell & Sipkov. Gouron & Terrin, Bibliographie des Coutumes de France 731.