D. Justiniani, Sacratissimi Principis, Institutionum, sive Elementorum, libri quatuor, Notis perpetuis multo, quam hucusque, diligentius illustrati, Curo & studo Arnoldi Vinnii I. C. Editio postrema ab Auctore recognita de JUSTINIAN. VINNIUS (Arnoldus):

Amstelaedami, Ex Officina Elzdeviriana, 1658. 12mo, 133 x 71 mm.s, pp. [xxiv], 643 [644 - 646 blank], with fine additional engraved title-page, with the Elzevir device as vignette on the printed title-page, contemporary red morocco, gilt-ruled border on each cover, spine richly gilt in compartments, all edges gilt; slight wear to base of spine, but generally a very good and attractive copy, with two early, probably contemporary hand-written ownership labels on the front paste-down end-paper: "Jullienne" and "J. B. Q. Malaclie." It would be pleasant to think that the first label and autograph is that of the art collector Jean de Jullienne (1686 - 1766). Arnoldus Vinnius (1588 - 1657) was one of the leading jurists of Europe in the 17th century, and this commentary on Justinian is his most important work. His commentary on Justinian, with the text, was first published in 1642, and this was the first edition to be published after his death. In his autobiography, My Own Life, David Hume noted that his "Family [had] a Notion that the Law was a proper Profession for me: But I found an unsurmountable Aversion to every thing but the Pursuits of Philosophy and general Learning; and while they fancyed that I was poring over Voet and Vinnius, Cicero and Virgil were the Authors which I was secretly devouring."