Mateh Dan / Cuzari Chelek Sheni

AUCTION 51 | Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Graphic & Ceremonial Art Including: The Alfonso Cassuto Collection of Iberian Books, Part II

Back to Catalogue Download Catalogue

Lot 27
NIETO, DAVID

Mateh Dan / Cuzari Chelek Sheni

FIRST EDITION. Hebrew with Dedication leaf in Spanish. Decorated title, architectural arch incorporating portrait-roundel of Judah the Prince flanked by armor-suited angels. Initials and tailpieces. Printed in two columns. Learned Hebrew marginalia on ff. 5r. and 32v ff. (6),118. Title rehinged, few tears, browned and dampwrinkled. Later boards. 4to Vinograd, London 5; Roth, London 5; Steinschneider 4834-5

London: Thomas Ilive 1714

Est: $600 - $900
PRICE REALIZED $600
Haham of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue in London, David Nieto (1654-1728) composed the Mateh Dan as a defense of rabbinic Judaism from the scorn of free-thinking former Marranos. Nieto considered his work a continuation of the tradition of Judah Halevi’s Cuzari (Fano, 1506) a philosophical exposition of Judaism, opposing the attacks of Karaites, heretics and other creeds