ALCIAT, Andreas (1492-1550), De verborum significatione libri quatuor. Eiusdem in tractatum eius argumenti veterum Iureconsultorum, commentaria. Ex ultima autoris recognitione. (Vorgebunden:) Elenchi dictionrum, quae enodantur in libris quatuor De verbo. (rum) siginifi.(catione) Do. Andreae Alcia.(ti) Iurecon. Eiusdem Elenchi in Commentariis de verborum signifi.(cationum) Ex ultima Autoris recognitione. Elenchi Dictionum, quae enodantur in libris quatuor. Lyon, Iacobus Giunta, 1536. Oktav. (Reprint Vico Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2015) Titelblatt mit Druckersignet, (56), 222, 530, (6) S. Two parts in one half-linen. Order-no.: IC-90 ISBN 978-3-86303-217-3 available Most important work of the epoch of humanistic law!

The most famous work of the great Italian jurist Andreas ALCIAT (1492-1550), and equally the most important work in modern European legal literature, is the commentary “De verborum significatione”, first published in 1530 by Sebastian Gryphius. This is a commentary on the digest entitled: De verborum significatione (D.50.16) and is based on lectures given by Andreas Alciat whilst in Avignon (1518-1522). Alciat had finished an initial version some eight years earlier, in 1522. The edition was delayed however as Alciat had to leave Avignon because of the plague and also an anticipated call to the university of Bourges did not materialise as quickly as expected. The juridical world nevertheless waited eagerly for its publication. This work makes Alciat´s achievements clear in atwofold manner. The starting point was the 1530 publication by Sebastian Gryphius in Lyon. Publishers, but also jurists and in particular students, urged Alciat to undertake the editing of this work. Throughout practically all the legal faculties in Europe, the word spread that Alciat had lectured in Avignon in favour of reforming the law and legal studies and would be publishing his work. When the call to Bourges finally came in 1529, Alciat prepared the edition. Originally he had promised it to his student (in Avignon) and leading publisher in Basle, Bonifacius Amerbach (1495-1562). However, when the reformation broke out in Basle, Alciat decided to have the work printed in Lyon instead. This was a literary event on a scale that is hard to describe. A long-waited book had finally gone to print. The news spread like wildfire throughout Europe and practically every law faculty, in Germany too, attempted to integrate the new juridical methodology in their curriculum. In legal science terminology, this approach to teaching and learning became known as “mos gallicus” as the reform had its roots in Avignon and Bourges. The numerous reprints in the 16th Century testify to the huge interest in the work.

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