Itinerarium Beniamini Tudelensis. Translated into Latin by Benedictus Aria Montano

AUCTION 15 | Tuesday, March 12th, 2002 at 1:00
Fine Hebrew Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art The Property of Various Owners

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Lot 85
BENJAMIN OF TUDELA

Itinerarium Beniamini Tudelensis. Translated into Latin by Benedictus Aria Montano

FIRST LATIN EDITION. Printer’s device on title pp. 114, (14). Dampstained in places, additional blank leaves bound in. Later blind-tooled tan calf, gently rubbed at extremities. 12mo Adams B-670

Antwerp: Christopher Plantin 1575

Est: $4,000 - $5,000
Benjamin of Tudela, one of the very earliest medieval travellers, set forth in 1159 from Tudela in Spain to traverse across Europe, Asia Minor, Upper Egypt and other African Lands. He presents here, observations on the manners and commerce of the various nations he came into contact with, and reports on the political situation of his fellow-Jews, particularly in Constantinople. He names the principal Jews of the congregation of each city visited, and makes additional reports concerning commerce and trade. The translator, Benedictus Aria Montano, was a notable Spanish Priest. He was the director of the Escorrrial Library and Chief Editor of the second Biblia Polyglotta