(MANUSCRIT] Traité de Jurisprudence Maritime-Commerciale Ancienne & Moderne

Unpublished French manuscript translation of the Giurisprudenza marittima-commerciale antica e moderna, Luigi Piantanida's monumental four-volume treatise on maritime and commercial law, published in Milan between 1806 and 1808 and dedicated to Napoleon. The translation was prepared by a certain J. Brunet, whose identity has not been established. Folio (25.5 × 39.3 cm), 680 unnumbered manuscript pages.

Modern period-style binding in half mottled tan calf with vellum corners, smooth spine richly decorated in gilt with Greek-key compartments, red morocco lettering-piece, marbled paper boards with a few light abrasions.

The manuscript is preceded by two finely engraved portraits: one of Luigi Piantanida, captioned "L'Avv.to Luigi Piantanida Milanese, Membro di varie Accademie", the other depicting Napoleon I as Emperor of the French and King of Italy. Also preserved is a printed bifolium in octavo (Paris, Hacquart, 1808), comprising three pages and containing the address delivered before the Corps législatif on 4 November 1808 by the deputy Jean-Augustin Pénières-Delzors in response to Piantanida's formal presentation of his work to the assembly.

A lawyer practising in Milan, then the capital of Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, Luigi Piantanida produced with his Giurisprudenza marittima-commerciale antica e moderna one of the most ambitious legal syntheses devoted to maritime and commercial law during the Napoleonic period. Dedicated to Napoleon, the work was formally presented to the French Corps législatif on 4 November 1808. The official reply, preserved here in its original printing, provides direct evidence of the author's tribute to the imperial government and of the reception accorded to his work by the French legislative authorities.

Beginning with a broad historical survey of navigation and maritime legislation - from the Egyptians and Phoenicians to the principal European maritime powers - Piantanida develops a comprehensive exposition of contemporary maritime and commercial law. The unpublished French translation faithfully follows this structure, opening with an extensive historical and political dissertation before examining maritime codes, consular and admiralty jurisdictions, and the rights and duties of shipowners, captains, crews, and merchants.

Never published, this French translation bears witness to the circulation of major Italian legal scholarship within the French-speaking world during the Napoleonic era. It also reflects the interest aroused beyond Italy by a work conceived as a contribution to the harmonisation of commercial law throughout imperial Europe.

Bringing together an unpublished manuscript translation of an important legal treatise, engraved portraits of its author and Napoleon, and the official address delivered upon its presentation to the French Corps législatif, this remarkable volume offers an exceptional insight into the circulation of legal thought and intellectual exchange across Napoleonic Europe.