Nativitatibus De Navitatibus. Henricus Bate: Magistralis compositio astrolabii

AUCTION 40 | Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 140

IBN EZRA, ABRAHAM.

Nativitatibus De Navitatibus. Henricus Bate: Magistralis compositio astrolabii

FIRST EDITION. Woodcut initials and 16 diagrams. Gothic letter ff. 30. Trace stained, upper corner of f. 29 neatly repaired, outer third of final text page laid down. Magnificent modern gilt morocco, housed in matching fitted case. 4to Goff A-7; BMC V, 291; H. Friedenwald, Jewish Luminaries in Medical History-Catalogue (1946) p.85

Venice: Erhard Ratdolt 1485

Est: $12,000 - $18,000

PRICE REALIZED $14,000

As a Biblical exegete, ibn Ezra’s commentaries contributed to the celebrated Golden Age of Spanish Judaism. As a Neoplatonic philosopher and astronomer he was one of the leaders of the movement which caused the Jews of Provence, Spain and Italy to become the transmitters of Moslem Science to the Christian West. This important work of astronomy is known to have been consulted by Christopher Colombus. See R. Levi, Johns Hopkins Studies in Romance Literature and Languages, vol. VIII: The Astrological Works of Abraham ibn Ezra (1927); A. Freimann, Incunables about Jews and Judaism in: Essays Presented to J.A. Hertz (c.1940) p.162. And see also A. Marx, The Scientific Work of Some Outstanding Mediaeval Jewish Scholars, in: Essays and Studies in Memory of L.R. Miller (1938) p.140 “The versatility of ibn Ezra...in all branches of mathematics is astonishing.”