Rationes breves magni Rabi Samuelis, Judei nati, sed de Judaismo ad fides Catholicam converti. ["A Brief Account of the Great Rabbi Samuel, Born Jewish, but Converted from Judaism to the Catholic Faith."]

AUCTION 42 | Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 238

(SAMUEL, RABBI)

Rationes breves magni Rabi Samuelis, Judei nati, sed de Judaismo ad fides Catholicam converti. ["A Brief Account of the Great Rabbi Samuel, Born Jewish, but Converted from Judaism to the Catholic Faith."]

Woodcut of scholar and students on title. Gothic type. Red lettering in initials and elswhere applied by hand. Ample margins. Scattered Latin marginalia. A crisp, clean copy ff. (24). 36 lines per page. Stamp on title, some light wear. Modern, emerald and black morocco with gilt. 8vo BMC I, 279; Goff S110

Cologne: H. Quentell 1493

Est: $2,000 - $3,000

PRICE REALIZED $4,200

The Epistle of Rabbi Samuel is a widely-disseminated fabrication designed to convert Jews to Christianity. Supposedly composed in Arabic by a Moroccan Jew ("Samuel Marochitanus") at the beginning of the 11th-century, the book went through several editions and translations. See Studies in Bibliography and Booklore, Vol. V (1961) p. 89, no. 67