Council of Trent, Canones et decreta, Rome, 1564, 8vo, red morocco for Pope Pius V by Ruiz Binder

Council of Trent. Canones, et decreta sacrosancti oecumenici et generalis Concilii Tridentini, sub Paulo III, Iulio III, et Pio III. Rome: Paolo Manuzio, 1564

Third octavo edition, with the 8-page bull at end (bound after the Index) and the last page of the Index containing 15 lines. A reprint of the third folio edition, distinguished by having a one-leaf Confirmatio Concilii, an index, and a 4-leaf Bull of Confirmation.

Very few bindings have been reattributed to the Ruiz Binder since Hobson’s study of the workshop that executed bindings for Jeronimo Ruiz. The present binding for Pope Pius V illustrates a little-known area of his work. The cartouche is a common feature on Ruiz bindings, and appears on other Pius V bindings (Needham [PML 74.4] cites 3 others). One of these—a 1552 Breviarium (Nixon, PML 46)—is decorated with a very similar tool to that used in the spine compartments of the present binding. The papal arms are also painted, rather than stamped, on The Morgan binding. These similarities suggest that the Ruiz Binder was employed with some regularity by the Vatican. See Hobson, Apollo and Pegasus, pp. 96-97 and Hobson/Culot p. 49.

8vo (161 x 105 mm). Italic type, 29 lines. collation: A-Z⁸ AA⁸ *⁴: 196 leaves. (Stained.)

binding: Contemporary Roman binding (165 x 113 mm), ca. 1566-70, by the Ruiz Binder for Pope Pius V, gold-tooled red morocco over thin beveled wooden boards, painted arms of Pius V within stamped cartouche at center with papal keys above and PIUS.V.P.M. lettered below, 3 double spine bands, compartments with foliate tool, edges gilt and gauffered, remains of two fore-edge clasps catching on rear board, 3 flyleaves at front and 7 at back, two with flower in circle watermark. (A few small stains, arms lightly rubbed, corners lightly worn, spine foot repaired.). In a modern brown cloth folding case.

provenance: Pope Pius V (Michele Ghislieri, 1504-72, Pope from 1566; binding; “63” written on spine) — Michel Wittock (bookplate, sold Christie’s London, Part I: Important Renaissance Bookbindings, 7 July 2004, lot 113). acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale via Robin Halwas. references: UCLA 729; Renouard 193/4; Paul Culot, “La reliure en Italie et en France” in Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Musea Nostra - 38 (Brussels 1996), p.25 (illustrated); Federico & Livio Macchi, Atlante della legatura italiana: Il Rinascimento (XV-XVI secolo) (Milan 2007), pp.162-163 & Tav. 61