DANISH BOOK PRODUCTION AT ITS PEAK

LEX REGIA - KONGELOVEN - THE ROYAL LAW.

Lex Regia Det er: Den Souveraine Konge=Lov, sat og given af den Stormegtigste Höibaarne Fyrste og Herre Herr Fridrich Den tredie...og Hans Maj. underskreven d. 14. Novemb. 1665. Som...Friderich den Fierde...Allernaadigst haver befalet ved offentlig Tryk at vorde publiceret...den fierde Septemb. Aar 1709.

(København), 1709.

Folio. In contemporary full calf Cambridge-style mirror binding with blindstamped borders. Light wear to extremities. Seven leaves with minor repairs to margins, one leaf with a 15 cm long closed tear, and one leaf with an 30 cm long closed tear, all professionally executed and with no loss of imprint. Margins slightly soiled. 19 leaves, -text and frames engraved. The broad frames that all differ from each other ornamentally depict animals and plants as well as the different trades of the country. A nice copy printed on thick, heavy paper. Housed in a cardboard box.

Provenance: From the collection of Danish book collector Viggo Lohse. The present copy was exhibited at 'Dansk Bibliofil-Klubs 50 års Jubilæumsudstilling' in 1992 (The 50 year anniversary exhibition for the Danish Society of Bibliophiles), no. 94.

First edition of this landmark work of Danish book production and the constitution of the Danish absolute monarchy.
The Royal Law established the absolute right of the Monarch to rule, and it defined the line of royal succession. It was more rigorous than the other monarchal laws of Europe at the time.

The text which is written by Peder Griffenfeld is engraved in copper throughout, in order to prevent the possibility of re-printing, pirated editions and text-counterfeiting. Frederik Rostgaard, the King's state archivist who was famous for his excellent taste in books, was in charge of the editing and issuing of the work. In front of the actual law text a leaf is inserted with the portrait of King Frederik III on his horse, and everything, except for the head of the king which was engraved after his death-mask, is executed in the beloved flourishing- or scroll- manner of the time. The titles and the text are engraved throughout by Michael Røg.

Order-nr.: 54195