Colbert

1669 · réf. 167114 — Paris: Chez Frederic Leonard 1669. Codifying the law of the ancien régime A collection of statutes passed by the Sun King including Colbert's landmark forest ordinance "a monument of legislative wisdom" de Colyat p. 78 which remained in force until the 19th century. Jean-Baptiste Colbert 1619-1683 dominated French legislation in his role as Louis XIV's chief minister from 1661 until his death in 1683. Colbert's programme of absolutist reform drove a major standardization of French law. The forestry legislation bound 20th in this volume was the product of eight years' work by a 21-man commission. They were charged with securing a stable supply of timber for shipbuilding largely by eradicating the widespread corruption in the forestry industry. The resulting ordinance codified a mass of medieval laws from Charlemagne onwards imposed uniform jurisprudence throughout the land and reformed various minor offences. The other edicts regulate government offices court jurisdictions and commercial regulations. The ninth provides that "les Nobles pourront faire le Commerce de Mer sans deroger a la Noblesse" the aristocracy will be able to trade at sea without compromising their noble status. All except the first are printed by Frederic Leonard 1624-1711 the royal and parliamentary printer. 24 works in one quarto 235 x 176 mm. Woodcut vignettes to title pages woodcut head- and tailpieces and initials to contents. Contemporary mottled calf spine lettered decorated and panelled in gilt edges sprinkled red. Ownership inscription of Jacques Triboudet royal counsellor mayor of Bourges and a lieutenant particulier magistrate dated 1749 on the title page of the first statute. Spine ends and corners professionally restored. Light rubbing upper front joint split but holding firm minor browning and foxing to contents small chip to upper margin of leaf B1 16th edict: a very good copy. H. A. de Colyar "Jean-Baptiste Colbert and the Codifying Ordinances of Louis XIV" Journal of the Society of Comparative Legislation vol. 13 no. 2 1912. unknown