Sepher Sha’ar Hashamayim [encyclopedic work on natural science, mathematics and astronomy].
AUCTION 54 |
Wednesday, March 21st,
2012 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art
Lot 124
GERSHON BEN SOLOMON.
Sepher Sha’ar Hashamayim [encyclopedic work on natural science, mathematics and astronomy].
Venice: Meir Parenzo 1547
Est: $700 - $900
PRICE REALIZED $850
Little is known of the 13th-century Provencali author, Gershon ben Solomon of Arles. His Sha’ar HaShamayim, reflects the unique synthesis of Jewish and secular learning for which Provence was famous, for through the Hebrew translations of Samuel ibn Tibbon and other gifted Provencal scholars, the Jews of Provence had at their disposal the extensive corpus of Aristotelian and Arabic learning. See Heller, The Sixteenth Century Hebrew Boook, Vol. I, pp. 338-39.