Pius IV, Transumptum literarum facultatum et privilegiorum, [Rome, 1560], printed on vellum, contemporary limp vellum binding

PIUS IV. Transumptum literarum facultatem et privilegiorum D.D. conclavistarum. [Rome: Antonio Blado, 1560]

RARE PRINTED LETTERS BY PIUS IV on the powers and privileges of the members of the conclave, PRINTED ON VELLUM.

A number of names of members of the conclave on leaves 9 and 10 are underlined, with marginal annotations noting their present offices, in a late-sixteenth-century hand (likely the same hand responsible for the Spanish title on the lower cover). This owner may have been a member of the conclave himself, or at least involved in the ecclesiastical hierarchy in some form.

This edition lacks the imprint, with a gap on the title-page where this would usually be found.

Folio (328 x 230 mm). Roman type with manuscript honorifics in brown ink. Collation: π¹ A¹⁰ *²: 49 lines plus headline. 13 leaves, including final page printed on lower inside cover. Title within elaborate woodcut border, woodcut papal crest printed in red, black and gold on title-page, first two lines printed in red, printed on vellum. (Final 3 leaves and lower cover wormed with fairly significant losses to text.)

Binding: Contemporary limp vellum (331 x 228 mm), lateral stitching on spine visible, manuscript title on upper cover "1560 / Transunto dei privilegy dei conclavisti" and on lower cover "Privilegios de los conclavistos". (Upper cover with a few small stains, lower cover heavily wormed.)

Provenance: Late-sixteenth-century annotations, likely from a member of the ecclesiasitical hierarchy or the conclave. Acquisition: Purchased in 1981 from H.P. Kraus, New York. References: Edit16 CNCE 24855; USTC 849255; Fumagalli & Vaccaro-Sofia, Catalogo delle edizioni romane di Antonio Blado asolano ed eredi, 1516-1593, no. 1730