LEX REGIA Det er: Den souveraine Konge=Lov, sat og given af den Stoormegtigste Höjbaarne Fyrste og Herre Herr Friderich Den Tredie (That is: The sovereign King’s Law, made by the most high and mighty Prince and Lord Herr Friderich The Third) ... Copenhagen 1709.
34^I,-96 2º

Front cover. Red velvet with the monogram of King Frederik IV made of gold and silver thread	Title page	Fol. 7: King Frederik III mounted	Fol. 8: Introduction to Frederik III’s law	Fol. 9: Second page of Frederik III’s law

In the beginning of the 18th century it became the fashion to print entire books using copperplates. An excellent Danish example of this technique is the King’s Law, the Constitution of Danish absolute monarchy, made during the reign of Frederik III in the 1660’s by Peder Schumacher, but not printed until 1709. Each page has the text surrounded by an ornamental frame which shows different animals symbolizing the countries in which the law was in force.
The 500 copies of the King’s Law were meant to be distributed, not to be sold. The publisher was Frederik Rostgaard (1671-1745), state archivist and collector of books. He was appointed to the task by King Frederik IV. The text was engraved by Michael Røg, the illustrations and ornaments by Andreas Reinhardt, using designs by Claus Møinichen.

51 x 36 cm.

See another description of this copy under “Bookbindings”.

© Det Kongelige Bibliotek 2003