Incunabulum leaf – Liber Tertius / De testamentis – 15th century

Work: presumably Decretales Gregorii IX with legal gloss

Book: Liber Tertius

Section: De testamentis

Language: Latin

Date of origin: 15th century – Incunabula period

Print: early Gothic print with extensive marginal gloss and manuscript rubrication

Sheet size: approx. 41 x 28 cm

Original incunabulum leaf from a late medieval canon law printing. The clearly preserved headings "Liber Tertius" and "De testamentis" assign the leaf to the third book and the canon law section on testaments, legacies, and last wills. The main Latin text is surrounded by extensive legal commentaries, source references, and glosses. The layout corresponds to the typical structure of scholarly legal texts from the early period of printing. The numerous hand-executed red and blue initials and paragraph marks are particularly decorative. Several larger Lombardic capitals in red and blue structure the text and give the leaf a distinct late medieval character.

The leaf is in good condition for its age. The paper is toned consistent with its age and shows stains and slight signs of wear, particularly in the upper area and on individual edges. The print is bold and easy to read; the historical rubrication is clearly preserved – see photos.

A decorative, over 500-year-old original leaf from the dawn of printing, of particular interest to collectors of incunabula, early prints, medieval canon law, legal history, and historical book art.

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