Mateh Dan / Cuzari Chelek Sheni.
AUCTION 55 |
Thursday, June 21st,
2012 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art
Lot 326
NIETO, DAVID.
Mateh Dan / Cuzari Chelek Sheni.
London: Thomas Ilive 1714
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
PRICE REALIZED $750
R. David Nieto 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 Kuzari (Fano, 1506), a philosophical exposition of Judaism, opposing the attacks of Karaites, heretics and other creeds.
The present copy formerly belonged to R. Yedidyah Tarikah (b.1713) a native of the Isle of Rhodes, who served as Rav Av-Beth-Din of that community beginning in the year 1740. He was a close colleague of Rabbi Elijah Israel (c.1715-84), another native of Rhodes.
While some of the marginalia in the book appear to be in R. Yedidyah Tarikah’s own hand, others appear to be the handwriting of another, perhaps of the previous owner R. Elijah Israel.
See S. Vanunu, Arzei HaLevanon (2006) Vol. II, p. 759 and Vol. I, p. 268; JE, Vol. X, p. 401.