Very rare edition of the Code of Justinian, printed by Yolande Bonhomme (active ca. 1497-1557). It was likely the first time this text was printed by a female printer, as we have not been able to find an earlier edition printed by a woman. This edition by Bonhomme has never been on the market before, is only available in a few libraries and is not mentioned in several of the most important relevant reference works.
Bonhomme was the daughter of bookseller and printer Pasquier Bonhomme (active 1451-1501) and the wife of printer Thielman Kerver (active ca. 1497-1522). Women in France were not allowed to start their own printing business, but they could take over their husband's company after his death. When Kerver passed away in 1522, Bonhomme continued the business under her own name and remained in charge for 35 years. She was one of the most successful female printers of her time and is the first woman known to have printed the Bible (1526).
This edition by Bonhomme is heavily glossed. Although it is not mentioned, these glosses are very likely by Accursius (ca. 1183-1263), a professor of law at the university of Bologna.
With an extensive owner's inscription and a black, oval library stamp on the title-page, and with annotations in the margins of some pages. The edges and corners of the boards are somewhat scuffed, the leather is slightly scratched and soiled, slightly affecting the clarity of the blind-tooling. Two ink stains on the title-page, but the text is still legible, the inner margin of the title-page and the lower margin of the first text leaf are restored, without affecting the text, a small tear in the woodcut initial on leaf 2A1 (prefatio G. Haloandri), without loss of paper, the outer edges of the final 10 leaves are slightly frayed, the lower outer corners on the last 6 leaves are folded, also without affecting the text. Overall in good condition. WorldCat 312067202, 313412679, 993078134 (4 copies); Not in Adams; Brunet; Graesse; USTC.