1588 Order Formality And Judicial Instruction Of Which The Ancient Greeks And Romans

ORDER, FORMALITY AND JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION, WHICH THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS USED PUBLIC ACCUSATIONS, CONFERRED ON THE STYLE AND USAGE OF OUR FRANCE
By Pierre Ayrault, [1536-1601] Criminal Lieutenant at the Presidial Seat of Angers. In Paris, at Michel Sonnius. With Privilege of the King. MD LXXXVIII

Very instructive volume in quarto format (16.5 x 23 cm), in French.
Full calf binding rigid after the work, mid-18th century, in good condition: headcaps present and solid, spine with strong ribs slightly cracked (wear from past readings, slight lack of leather in the corner of the upper headcap) and title piece in gilt letters on red morocco, joints slightly cracked but solid. Covers slightly rubbed, a small water stain on the first cover. Easy handling and reading. Fresh interior.

Completely collated: Continuous pagination of the leaves and not of the pages. Title page + "To Messire Guillaume" (5) + Table (4) + "Extract from the Privilege of the King" + 371 + Tables of Contents at the end (34).
Paper slightly browned by time. Very beautiful engraved initials adorn the first word of certain chapters and tables. All red edges.
Handwritten Latin mention and signed on the title page : Book of Judge Carolus D. A few neatly drawn lines and charming rare marginalia of said Judge Carolus D., very old owner of this volume. Very nice collector's work, with very interesting content: Everyone will have a punishment adapted to their status. Servants, foreigners, criminals, ecclesiastics, but also kings - captured in the event of war -, this work will punish "justly" but judicially those concerned.

Small temporal anecdote:
.1588 : printing of the book, about 435 years ago.
.Circa 1750 : production of the hardcover binding.
Today : publication of this ad => Within 30 years, the same amount of time separates the book from its binding as that which separates us from the French Revolution. This gives a sense of the passing of time.