FIRST EDITION OF THIS COMMENTARY TO THE RULES OF APOSTOLIC CHANCELLERY

Rigantius, Johannes Baptista. Joannis Baptistae Rigantii Commentaria in regulas, constitutiones, & ordinationes Cancellariae Apostolicae opus posthumum. Tomus I [-IV]. Romae, typis Generosi Salomoni prope Ecclesiam S. Eustachii, 1744-1747.

4 volumes, folio (366x234 mm), full stiff vellum binding, sepia ink handwritten titles at spine, edges colored in red ink, pp. [12], 479, [1] at first volume, pp. [8], 463, [1] at second, pp. [8], 458, [2] at third and pp. [8], 518, [2] at fourth. Engraved headletters and vignettes, red and black title-pages, text on two columns.

First edition of this important commentary to the rules of the Apostolic Chancellery.

CONTENT:

Tomus 1: Complectens regulas octo ad Benedictus XIV
Tomus 2: Complectens regulam 9. usque ad 24. ad eminentissimum, & reverendissimum principem Nerium S.R.E. cardinalem Corsinium
Tomus 3: Complectens regulam 25. usque ad 48. ad eminentissimum, & reverendissimum principem Antonium Xaverium
Tomus 4: Complectens regulam 49. usque ad postremam; necnon rerum omnium notabilium quae in aliis quoque tribus tomis continentur indicem locupletissimum

Comparing the different works on the subject, Riganzio detected their incompleteness and backwardness; for that reason he tried to correct and complete the treatises by Mandosius, Gomesius, Gonzalez, Peleus and Quesada with the indults, privileges and ordinances promulgated by the Popes along the time. In the text Riganzio analyze all the rules promulgate from XIV century on, in a chronological order, without an organic organization by subject; nevertheless information on the courts, spread along the text, can be traced back using an Index added at the time of publication, happened years after the death of the author by order of the Pope and edited by author's nephews, Nicola and Giovanni Battista.

Giovanni Battista Riganzio (1661-1735), lat. Johannes Baptista Rigantius), born in Puglia, moved to Rome in 1675 to study law and at the age of 22 he became pupil of cardinale Bandinus Panciaticus (1629-1718). He became later prefect of Congregazione per l'interpretazione del Concilio di Trento.

Bibliography: Cfr. M.R. Di Simone, La giustizia dello Stato pontificio in età moderna , in «L'amministrazione moderna della giustizia. Le Gran Corti Civili del Regno delle Due Sicilie», atti del convegno di Taranto 21-22 maggio 2010, Napoli, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, 2010.

References: IT\ICCU\RMSE\001297. OCLC 31813960 locates only two copies in USA (Baylor University Libraries, Moody Memorial Library, Waco; and Saint Joseph's University - Francis A. Drexel Library, Francis A. Drexel Library, Philadelphia).

Light foxing at the first and last leaves of each volume; overall, very good copy on crisp paper.