De Libertate Ecclesiarum Germaniae Libri Septem by Johannes Schilter - 1683

Schilter, Johannes. De Libertate Ecclesiarum Germaniae Libri Septem. Jena, Sumtu Bielckiano Bibliop, 1683.

1st ed, 4to, 2 frontispieces, pp. [xxxii], 1142, [64], 132, [8], 108, [5]; [π4, β4, γ4, δ4, A4-Z4, 2A4-2Z4, 3A4-3Z4, 4A4-4Z4, 5A4-5Z4, 6A4-6Z4, 7A4-7M4, *2, a4-r4, s2, 2a4-2o4]; in 18th century plain paper covered boards with hollow back, later endpapers, gilt coats of arms to boards, gilt title to label on spine, edges of text-block coloured red; edges of boards heavily rubbed with tears to paper, crack down rear board, damp-stain to spine, label chipped; closed tear to margin of X2 not affecting text, open tear to head of 2I4 not affecting text, lower corners of 2X4, 6L1, 2n1 folded over and uncut, open tears to lower corners of 3Y4, 7E3, 2a4, not affecting text, small ink-stain to edge of 3V4-4D1, feet of many leaves uncut with small open 'tears' not affecting text, several quires browned, periodic foxing, damp-stain to first few leaves, paper repair to rear of first frontispiece, contemporary inscription in pen to foot of title-page; pair of decorative engraved frontispieces, the first a bust of the author, title-page partially in red, large engraved device to p. [v], decorative woodcut initials, woodcut devices, woodcuts of coins to pp. 405, 659, hereditary diagrams to pp. 420-425 and in following text.

Gilt coats of arms to boards of His Grace Hieronymus von Colloredo, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg and patron of Mozart. Colloredo was noted for his Protestant approach to Catholicism, banning Pilgrimages and superstitious practices, limiting processions and decoration of holy sites. The binding is dated 1772, the year Colloredo ascended the throne. His relationship with Mozart was a turbulent one, and after several arguments he dismissed the composer with the words "Let him go then, I don't need him!" and, according to Mozart, "a kick up the backside".

Schilter was a German jurist and philosopher, and honorary professor at Strasbourg University. In later life he was plagued by gout and became bed-bound; this did not stop his efforts of teaching and he even held lectures from bed. This is an interesting and lengthy 17th century law book relating to the church in Germany.

Provenance: Sold by German bookseller Riese- und Versandbuchhandlung in 1963 to an Englishman; receipt and relevant page from their catalogue are held loose inside the book.