Pius V, Bulla, Rome, 1567, printed on vellum, in a contemporary Roman binding

Pius V, Pope (b. Antonio Michele Ghislieri). Bulla s.d.n.d. Pii divina provid. Papae quinti. Extensionis, omnium privilegiorvm ordinibus mendicantivm. Per S. sanctitatem concessorvm cum eorum noua concessione. Pro congregatione Lateranensi Canonicorum Regularium, ordinis S. Augustini & alijs ordinibus & congregationibus in ea nominatis. Cum processu Illustriss. & Reverendiss. D. Protectoris, Iudicis & executoris. Rome: Heirs of Antonio Blado, 1567 [6 February 1568]

A papal bull (16 August 1567) on the extension of privileges to the mendicant order of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, an “official copy,” printed on vellum, attested by a notary on the last page, and bound in dark brown goatskin, with the arms of Pope Pius V on upper cover, and those of Marco Antonio Colonna, Cardinal Protector of the Order of Saint Augustine, on lower cover. The front endleaf of this copy is inscribed in an early hand, “S. Croce,” suggesting ownership by the monastery of Santa Croce at Bosco Marengo, near Alessandria, in northern Italy. Pius V was born in Bosco Marengo and he gave numerous volumes bearing his Papal arms to that library.

Multiple editions of this bull were published by Blado, 1567–1568, for the Augustinians, and also for the Olivetans and Benedictines. This one is distinguished by the phrases “Pro congregatione Lateranensi Canonicorum Regularium” and “Cum processu Illustriss. & Reverendiss. D. Protectoris, Iudicis & executoris” and date 1567 on the title-page. The text of the bull (printed in italic) appears to be the same setting in all editions; the initial quire (with full-page illustration) and the final quire (an addendum, in roman type, dated 6 February 1568) are specific to each Order. This copy has a written subscription (“dominus Joanne de Auila et Joanne Vignodi, archivistis Romanae Curiae testibus ad premissa vocatis specialiter atque rogatis”) and the attestation of the notary Giovanni Francesco Bucca.

A copy of this edition in the British Library (C.29.i.10), also printed on vellum and attested by Bucca, is bound identically. A copy of the edition Pro Congregatione Olivetana in the Houghton Library is bound in brown goatskin with the same gilt and blind fillet border, flowers at the outer angles, and gilt arms of Pius V on upper cover; added to its covers are the symbol of Monte Oliveto, and on lower cover the arms of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Cicada, protector of that Order (see illustration in Mortimer, Italian, no. 90). The binding on the British Library’s copy of the edition Pro Congregatione Olivetana (C.42.d.3) displays the same arms blocks and stamp of Monte Oliveto as the Harvard copy, but is red goatskin, and features the broad lacework border seen on many books bound for Pius V. The papal arms and other tools were presumably Vatican property and the brown goatskin and red goatskin bindings likely emanated from the same, as yet unidentified shop.

Other Copies on Vellum with Colonna Arms on Lower Cover

§ London, British Library, c.29.i.10 (acquisition date stamp 4 Nov [18]50).

Robin Alston, Books printed on vellum in the collections of the British Library (London 1996), p.153 (images on British Library Database of Bookbindings).

§ Padua, Biblioteca Universitaria, RARI.N.S.120.

§ apparently Justin, comte de MacCarthy-Reagh (1744–1811; Debure frères, Paris, Catalogue des livres rares et précieux de la bibliothèque de feu M. le comte de Mac-Carthy Reagh, 27 January–6 May 1817, lot 1177), purchased by — Jean-Jacques Debure (1765–1853) (FF 9). Current location not traced.

Joseph Van Praet, Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la bibliothèque du roi, Tome sixième. Supplément (Paris 1828), pp. 159-160 no. 32.

§ Howell Wills, Esq. of Florence (Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, London, Catalogue of the Valuable, Extensive and Varied Library of Ancient Mss. & Printed Books, London, 11 July 1894, lot 1447), purchased by — Ridler (£2). Current location not traced.

§ Edward Clive Herbert, 2nd Earl Powis (1785–1848), by descent to — George Herbert, 4th Earl Powis (1862–1952); Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, Catalogue of a selected portion of the valuable library from Powis Castle, Welshpool, the property of the Right Hon. the Earl of Powis, London, 20-22 March 1923, lot 250 — Michelmore & Co., London - bought in sale (£16); their Catalogue of a collection of books printed upon vellum, many of which are unique (London [ca 1926]), pp. 13-14; Two hundred extraordinarily important books, autographs and manuscripts (London [1928?]), item 123 (£75); Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of the Valuable Stock of Printed Books, Autograph Letters and Manuscripts of Messrs. G. Michelmore and Co. 5 Royal Opera Arcade (sold owing to the closing of the business), London, 13–14 June 1955, lot 279, purchased by — Martin Breslauer, London (£26). Current location not traced.

§ Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, London, 14-16 June 1926, lot 97 (part collection 50 books on vellum) — Vincent - bought in sale (collection en-bloc £420) — Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, autograph letters & historical documents, London, 30 March-1 April 1931, lot 352 (sold individually) — Morrell - bought in sale (£23) — Sotheby & Co., London, Catalogue of Highly Important Autograph Letters & Literary Manuscripts, principally of the XIX century, 28–30 May 1934, lot 96), purchased by — Fournier (£4 10). Current location not traced.

§ Sotheby & Co., London, Catalogue of Valuable Illuminated Manuscripts … also Printed Books, 16 December 1940, lot 106), purchased by — Lindsay (£11 10s). Current location not traced.

Copies on Vellum in Unknown Bindings

§ Lucca, Biblioteca Statale, B.ta 861/4.

§ Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Vélins-1795.

Joseph Van Praet, Bibliothèque du Roi: Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliothèque du Roi, Tome deuxième. Jurisprudence (Paris 1822), pp.29-30 no. 32.

§ Ferdinando Landi (1778–1853), Piacenza. Current location not traced.

Joseph Van Praet, Catalogue de livres imprimés sur vélin, qui se trouvent dans des bibliothèques tant publiques que particulières, Tome quatrième. Supplément (Paris 1828), p.40 no. 17ter.

§ Ravenna, Biblioteca Classense, F.A. VARIA Busta 012 428.

4to (216 x 156 mm). Italic and Roman types, 32 lines, shoulder notes. collation: A-C⁴ c²: 14 leaves, printed on vellum. 3 woodcuts on title, full-page engraving of Saint Augustine on verso of title-page, 2 large metal-cut initials, manuscript subscription on the last leaf naming Joannes de Avila and Joanne Vignodi, attestation of the notary Joannes Franciscus Bucca. (Some minor marginal soiling and natural discoloration, flaw to the vellum of B2 costing a few letters, a couple of unobtrusive wormholes to lower margin of first few leaves.)

binding: Roman dark brown goatskin (225 x 164 mm), ca. 1567, double gilt fillets flanked by blind fillets around sides, gilt fleurons at corners, papal arms of Pius V (r. 1566–1572) on upper cover and of Cardinal Marco Antonio Colonna (1523–1597) on lower, spine with 3 raised bands, plaited silk thread to hold the papal bulla is still present, and sewn through the leaves at the foot of the gutter, stubs from two pairs of ties, paper endpapers, gilt edges. (Binding quite rubbed, lacking seal, a few small wormholes, repair at head of spine.)

provenance: possibly Convento di Santa Croce, Bosco Marengo, Alessandria (founded by Pius V in 1566); early inscription “S. Croce” on front endpaper, papal arms of Pius V) gilt on upper cover — John Vertue (formerly Virtue; 1826–1900), first Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth — John Baptist Cahill (1841–1910), 2nd Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth 1900 — Virtue and Cahill Library, See of Portsmouth (exlibris; Christie’s, London, Important and Rare Printed Books and Manuscripts from the Virtue and Cahill Library, 5 July 1967, lot 102), purchased by — Alan G. Thomas, London (£70) (Catalogue 19, [1967], item 284, £150) — Laurence Witten, Southport (his stockbook #8524 in pencil on front pastedown). acquisition: Purchased from Laurence Witten, 1975.

references: Edit16 41652; Franceso Malaguzzi, "Libri e legature per Michele Ghislieri e la Biblioteca di Bosco," in Il tempo di Pio V, Pio V nel tempo: atti del Convegno internazionale di studi, Bosco Marengo, Alessandria, 11–13 marzo 2004 (Alessandria, 2006), pp. 287–302 (copy cited p. 290). For lists of surviving books from Pius V’s gifts to the monastery of Santa Croce at Bosco Marengo, see Ugo Rozzo, “Pio V e la biblioteca di Bosco Marengo,” in Pio V e Santa Croce di Bosco. Aspetti di una committenza papale (Alessandria, 1985), pp. 315–340; Rozzo, Biblioteche italiane del Cinquecento tra Riforma e Controriforma (Udine, 1994), pp. 235–292 (reprint of the preceding, with a “Seconda parte” based on books located in Seminario di Alessandria); Rozzo, “La biblioteca di Santa Croce ‘riletta’ vent’anni dopo,” in Il tempo di Pio V, pp. 267–302.