[LAW, COMPARATIVE LEGISLATION, 1593]. Syntagmatis iuris [juris] universi atque legum pene omnium gentium, et rerum publicarum praecipuarum, triplici volumine comprehensarum

Venice: Damian Zenari, 1593. Hardcover. Very good. Large, thick folio. 3 volumes in one. COLLATION: Book I: a6 A-K8 L4. [12], 168 pp. Book II: Aa-Ss8 Tt6 (includes final blank). 294 pp. Book III: +10 Aaa-Ffff8 Gggg10. 851 pp. (page 497 misnumbered "597"; sig. Iii3 mis-signed "Kkk3" and Bbbb4 mis-signed "Aaaa4"). Index: a-k8. [160] pp. COMPLETE. Bound in near-contemporary vellum expertly rebacked with cream-colored calf, title-lettered direct on spine; title-page of Book I somewhat soiled and tipped onto quire guard stub at an early date (probably at the time of binding as it surrounds preliminary gathering "a" and is also visible on a6r). Verso of final blank a little soiled. Faint evidence of water-staining in Book III, not objectionable, otherwise the paper stock in this copy is clean and fresh. Unobtrusive blind stamps on final two leaves of the Theological Institute of Connecticut (now known as the Hartford Seminary). NB: in 1976 a collection of more than 200,000 books from the Hartford Seminary Library were sold to Emory University, including this one --> deaccessioned from Pitts Theology Library. Preserved in a fitted cloth case. ¶ THE FIRST SYSTEMATIC ESSAY OF COMPARATIVE LEGISLATION. Revised edition, beautifully printed in Venice by Damian Zenar. Pierre Gregoire (i.e. Petrus Gregorius Tolosanus) was born in Toulous ca. 1540; in his long career he was professor of Law at Cahors, Toulouse, Saint-Michel and Pont-a-Mousson. Gregoire's abilities as a legal scholar were held in very high regard by his contemporaries. He died in 1597 (or 1617 according to Calmet). Gregoire's "Syntagma Juris Universi" was frequently reprinted; according to Hoefer, "it was extremely remarkable for the era, as it was the first systematic essay of comparative legislation." ¶ As indicated on the title page, this is the fourth edition, here presented for the first time the revisions and augmentations by the author, and with improved subject index. ¶ CONTENTS: Pars prima: In quo divini et humani iuris totius, naturali, ac nova methodo pergradus ordineque, materia universalium & singularium rerum, simulq; iudicia explicantur -- Pars secunda: Ubi de personis, iuribs, et potestate earum agitur -- Pars tertia: In qua de negotiis, quae ex rebus et personis oriuntur, & quotidie controvertuntur, agitu; iurisconsultis, in foro versantibus, & magistratibus opus utilissimum; legibus omnium fere gentium, & praxi forensi illustratum. ¶ Not in Adams (sic!) ¶ PROVENANCE: From the Bibliotheca Sunderlandiana (sale: London, Puttick and Simpson, 3rd Portion, 17 July 1882, lot 5760).