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A LEGAL THESIS PRINTED ON BRIGHTLY-COLORED SILK. Letterpress printed on bright yellow silk, 74 x 54 cm. Upper and lower edges of silk hemmed ; text within a typographical border. A few small stains, otherwise very neatly preserved. Unrecorded, large-format printing on silk of this curious artefact, a decorative thesis offering precepts drawn from both canon and secular law for the glory of an icon of the Crucifix venerated in the Catedral del Salvador in Zaragoza. This peculiar mixture of subject matter, intended use, and format hints at the widespread adoption of printing on silk during the first decades of the 19th century for all manner of ephemera, suggesting either advances in printing techniques or a reduction in the cost of silk. The opening text explains the function of the broadside: "To the crucified Son of God, who is venerated in the Metropolitan Temple of the Savior in Zaragoza, especially important for the Aragonese in the most difficult matters; this small Memorial of Gratitude and Pledge of Love, for the Licentiate Laureate in Civil Law to be received by Carlos Ribera y Navarro". The precepts themselves are taken from the Decretals of Gregory and Clement, as well as the Digest of Justinian, and range from secular to clerical matters. "A transaction carried out lawfully and without deception or fear will not be nullified even by the most grievous injury"; "A father acting cruelly towards his son can be forced to emancipation"; "He who reveals the intention of committing a crime shall be punished at the beginning of the crime, even if the consequences do not follow"; and so on. As the text below explains, the theses will be defended "in the Main Theater of this Royal and Pontifical University on the 12th of July, at 7 in the Morning". Seller Inventory # D0323
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