Sepher Ibronoth [astronomy and calculations of intercalation and the Jewish calender]

AUCTION 14 | Tuesday, November 13th, 2001 at 1:00

Important Hebrew Printed Books and Manuscripts From the Library of the London Beth Din

Back to Catalogue

<Previous Lot

/447

Next Lot>

Lot 60

BEILIN, ELIEZER BEN JACOB

Sepher Ibronoth [astronomy and calculations of intercalation and the Jewish calender]

Title within architectural arch featuring Moses and Aaron, with cherubs flanking a zodiac sphere. Numerous mathematical tables and illustrations. Woodcut illustrations of hand palms on ff.23v. and 24r. Spherical charts on ff. 25 and 28. Single sphere tipped between ff.36v and 37r. Lacking volvelles. ff. (2), 40. Few light stains in places, generally a clean copy. Recent cloth-backed boards. 4to Vinograd, Offenbach 63

Offenbach: Israel ben Moses 1722

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $700

The Jewish calendar is lunisolar; the months are reckoned by the moon and the year by the sun. The astronomical expertise required to make the necessary adjustments, mandated an interest in astronomy for religious Jews. Maimonides devotes an entire section of his Mishneh Torah to what he lists as a positive commandment “to know how to determine which is the first day of each month of the year.” Sepher Ibronoth was prepared by Beilin as a manual “to help an individual fulfil the commandments.” See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth-Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, (1991) pp.197-8 For a rare complete copy with all volvelles sold at auction, see Kestenbaum & Company, Sale X, June 27th, 2000, Lot 28