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Two rare first editions of works by Menasseh-Ben-Israel; important for the history of jewish-christian relations in tolerant 17th century Amsterdam

MENASSEH-Ben-Israel.
De creatione problemata XXX: cum summariis singulorum problematum, & indice locorum Scripturae, quae hoc opere explicantur.

Hebrew text (Ps. 85,11: 'Veritas e terra orietur') in a frame on the title, used as printer's device: a so-called 'magical square' in which the consonants are arranged in such a way that horizontally as well as vertically the text of Ps. 85,11 can be read Hillesum, in: Het Boek); some nice woodcut initials. Some Hebrew characters in the text.

Amsterdam, Typis & sumptibus auctoris (by the author), 1635. 8vo. Full contemporary calf, three blind lines ruled along the edges. Hebrew text (Ps. 85,11: 'Veritas e terra orietur') in a frame on the title, used as printer's device: a so-called 'magical square' in which the consonants are arranged in such a way that horizontally as well as vertically the text of Ps. 85,11 can be read Hillesum, in: Het Boek); some nice woodcut initials. Some Hebrew characters in the text. (16), 156, (2) pp.

With:
IDEM.- De resurrectione mortuorum libri III. Quibus animae immortalitas & corporis resurrectio contra Zaducaeos comprobatur: caussae item miraculosae resurrectionis exponuntur: deque judicio extremo, & mundi instauratione agitur: Ex sacris Literis, & veteribus rabbinis. Amsterdam, Typis & sumptibus auctoris (by the author), 1636. The same printer's device on the title; some nice woodcut initials. (40), 346, (6) pp.

Ad 1: Rare first edition of this important work on the Creation by the famous rabbi, author and printer Menasseh-ben-Israel, who has established one of the first Hebrew presses in the Netherlands. The dedicatory letter by Menasseh to David de Wilhelm, councillor of Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange, dated Amsterdam, 16 May 1635 and the preface is followed by five poems to the author by Himanuel Nehamias, Mosseh Pinto, Jona Abravanel and, above all, the important laudatory poem by Caspar Barlaeus. This last poem caused the Amsterdam authorities to consider the reintroduction of censorship for Jewish publications as it was normal in the rest of Europe. As this not happened, Barlaeus' poem could play an important role in the history of the relations between Jews and Christians in tolerant Amsterdam's Golden Age.
The text (pp.1-146) and the Index (pp.147-56) of the book is concluded by one leaf with 'Errores' and the often lacking blank. In the same year another edition was published with the impressum 'Amstelodami, prostant apud Joann. Janssonium'.
Ben-Israel was born in Lisbon in 1604. His father fled for the inquisition and settled in Amsterdam in 1616. The family took active part in the flourishing Jewish life in Amsterdam and Menasseh became a rabbi in 1622. In 1626 he founded the first Jewish printing press in the Northern Netherlands: the beginning of a fruitful printing tradition which made Amsterdam one of the main focal points of Jewish life in the world. On his way back from England where he had published in 1656 his well-known Vindiciae Judaeorum - a plea for the admittance of Jews in England -, he died in Middelburg in 1657.

Ad 2: Rare first edition of this important work on the Resurrection by the same author and in the same year Rembrandt has etched Menasseh's beautiful portrait, testifying of the great esteem Menasseh enjoyed in the Amsterdam Jewish as well as not-Jewish community. The work has complicated preliminaries: after the title follows a dedicatory letter by Menasseh to the famous governor of the Dutch East India Company Laurens Reael and Albert Conrad vander Burch, dated Amsterdam, 20 Febr, 1636; then the list of chapters of book 1, a separate dedicatory letter by Menasseh to Joachim Wickefort, dated Amsterdam, 26 Febr. 1636, a list of the chapters of book 3, a dedicatory letter by Menasseh to Wilhelm Nooms, Lord of Aarlanderveen, dated Amsterdam, 24 Febr. 1636, a list of chapters of book 2, and three poems by Gerbrandus Ansloo and Ant. Zilius and, on the last page before the text, a catalogue of books translated from Hebrew into Spanish. After the text (pp.1-346) follows the 'Index rerum et verborum'.Spanish edition appeared in the same year, also printed by Menasseh.

Very good copies; two 19th century labels pasted to the verso of the front cover: one of 'J. Leslie, Holborn, London', and the other of 'Henry David Forbes of Balgowine'.- (joints weak).

Ad 1: NNBW 10, cols. 604-13; Bibl. Rosentaliana (1 copy); M. Hillesum, in: Het Boek, 16 (1927), p. 358-61; Fuks & Fuks-Mansfeld, Hebrew topography in the Northern Netherlands 1585-1815, p. 99-135; Méchoulan, 'Menasseh ben Israel au centre des rapports Judéo-Chrétiens en Hollande au XVIIe s.', in: Studia Rosentaliana, 16 (1982), p. 21-5; F. Blok, Caspar Barlaeus, passim. Ad 2: Bibl. Rosentaliana (1 copy).

Related Subjects: Hebraica & Judaica Religion

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