ALFONSI, PETRUS

AUCTION 15 |
Tuesday, March 12th,
2002 at 1:00
Fine Hebrew Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art The Property of Various Owners
Lot 8
ALFONSI, PETRUS
Cologne: Joannes Gymnicus 1536
Est: $2,000 - $2,500
PRICE REALIZED $1,500
Born a Jew in Aragon, Spain, Moses Sephardi was baptized in 1106, thereafter assuming the name Petrus Alfonsi. He wrote the Diologi in quibus judaeorum opiniones confutantur, in defence of his own conversion. In the mold of the classic apologetics, the dialogues take place between a Jew and a Christian, named Moses and Peter respectively; the two figurations of the author himself, before and after his apostasy. Exploring aspects of Christian belief, the author attempts to prove that the Jews were only partially observing the Laws of Moses, before concluding that Christianity is not contradictory to Mosaic Law. See EJ, XIII col. 347