Paris, Antoine de Sommaville, 1655.
12mo of (6) pp., 50 pp., (8) pp., 63 pp., (1) bl. p., 72 pp., 2 folding plates. Some spotting. Full ivory vellum, flat spine. Contemporary binding.
165 x 110 mm.
Definitive edition, revised and greatly expanded, of this learned work on the election of popes.
“Rare. With two plans of the conclaves. Bignon’s treatise is dated 1604. » (Catalogue Ruggieri n°137).
The three previous editions of this successful work, all published in 1605, comprised only about twenty leaves and one plate.
« Jerome Bignon is one of the fathers of French erudition. Bignon was born in Paris in 1589. Raised by his father, a highly educated man and owner of an important library for the time, he developed a passion for study at an early age and acquired knowledge that amazed Sirmond with his early erudition. Having heard of this extraordinary child, Henri IV wanted to meet him and made him a companion to his son, the Duke of Vendôme. In 1620, Jérôme Bignon became Advocate General at the Grand Council and State Councillor. From 1625, he served as Advocate General at the Parliament of Paris. For a time, in 1641, he was grand master of the king’s library..
His ‘treatise on the election of popes’ is very rare. When it was published, it was a great success. The importance of the subject was combined with the interest always inspired by the work of a child considered a prodigy of science. Here is what Pérau said about how Bignon composed and published this work: ‘Pope Clement VIII having died on March 3, 1605, this news became the subject of a long conversation between the Duke (of Vendôme) and Bignon. Bignon, speaking with such ease and order that he enchanted everyone who listened to him, recounted such curious details on the subject that the young Prince, eager for anything that could educate him, insisted that Bignon write down what he had just said…’.
This work was printed under the title ‘Summary Treatise on the Election of Popes; plus the Plan of the Conclave.’ Paris, 1605, octavo. It was so successful that within less than a year, three editions were published. Although more than two and a half centuries separate us from the publication of this pamphlet, Bignon’s work has not lost its value; the canonical provisions governing the election of the Pope remain the same as in his time.
Between the first editions of Bignon’s ‘Treatise’ in 1605 and the last, a reprint published shortly before his death, this ceremonial confirmed by Urban VIII appeared; nevertheless, he did not feel the need to revise his work. Gregory XV’s bulls only expanded on previous constitutions and clarified their application. The volume in which this ‘Treatise’ appeared for the fourth time is titled: ‘Ceremonial of the Election of Popes compiled by the command of Pope Gregory XV… In Paris, at Antoine de Sommaville, 1655. 1 vol. small 8vo.
In this 1655 edition, Bignon added an appendix to his original work with the bulls of Pius IV and Gregory XV.
Two plates accompany the 1655 edition. The second plate is the most interesting; in addition to the plan of the conclave apartments, it shows what happened in Rome and in the conclave during the pope’s death and the election of his successor.
The Plan of the Conclave drawn up during the vacancy following the death of Clement VIII is the only one found in the third edition of Bignon’s ‘Treatise.’ It was in this conclave that Leo XI was elected.” (Preface to the reprint made in 1874).
Bignon’s erudition in his book titled ‘On the Election of Popes’ surprised the scholars of his time. Scaliger, Casaubon, Grotius, Pithou, de Thou, du Perron, Sirmond, etc., expressed their esteem for this young author.
This edition is illustrated with two folding plates, the Plan of the Conclave drawn up after the death of Clement VIII, and the splendid New Plan of the Conclave made on January 7, 1655, due to the vacant seat of Pope Innocent X… appearing here for the first time and showing what happened in Rome after the Pope’s death.
Very beautiful copy preserved in its original limp vellum binding of the time.
Location of copies in France: B.n.F., Toulouse, Amiens, Grenoble, and Angers.
