Justinian I, Les institutions imperialles, Paris, 1544, Parisian tan calf, L'Angelier publisher's binding

8vo (166 x 105 mm). Roman type. collation: a⁸ A-Z⁸ Aa-Gg⁸: 248 leaves. "Cum privilegio" on title-page with woodcut border, woodcut initial. (1.5-inch closed tear to I3 (likely torn in the print shop due to slight misalignment of type on lines 3-6 of I3v), some dampstaining and worming at margins.)

binding: Contemporary Parisian publisher's display binding of brown calf (172 x 112 mm), outer and inner rectangular frames of multiple blind fillets, in the corners a large gilt fleuron, in the centre the gilt lozenge-shaped mark of the Brothers Langelier; the standing Christ child flanked by 2 kneeling angels who are tied together by a true-love knot, the initials C and L (for Charles Langelier) above the angels' heads, surrounded by a cartouche inscribed with the punning device "LES.ANGES.LIES" and a small cherub's head above and below, spine with 5 full and 2 half bands, gilt rosette in compartments, plain edges. (Old repairs at joints and extremities, joints starting, upper endleaf removed.)

provenance: Charles L'Angelier, Parisian publisher (active 1535-1563)—sixteenth-century inscription mentioning a Maître Martin Grancher of Paris to verso of title, other early modern inscriptions and pen trials on inside covers and endleaves, including the signature "Johani Vasar"—Martin Breslauer, Catalogue 91 (1959), item 53, Catalogue 92 (1960), item 105, and Catalogue 93 (1961), item 93 (all illustrated)—Jean Fürstenberg (1890-1982), booklabel—Martin Breslauer, Catalogue 104/II, item 155. Martin Breslauer Inc., Catalogue 104/II, no.155. acquisition: Purchased in 1989 from Martin Breslauer Inc., New York. references: BP16 111642; USTC 76137; Georges Colin, "Les Marques de libraires et d'éditeurs dorées sur des reliures" in Bookbindings & other bibliophily: Essays in honour of Anthony Hobson (Verona 1994), p. 96, no. 6 (this binding); Jean Balsamo & Michel Simonin, Abel L'Angelier & Françoise de Louvain (1574-1620) (Geneva 2002), p. 18 (this binding). exhibited: Exposition de reliures de la Renaissance: collection Jean Furstenberg: 30 September 1961 (Paris 1961), no. 65