Castillo, Martin Del. Arte Hebraispano. Dikduk Lashon Hakodesh Belshon Sepharadith. Grammatica de la Lengua Santa.

AUCTION 60 | Thursday, November 14th, 2013 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic Art and Ceremonial Objects

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Lot 8
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Castillo, Martin Del. Arte Hebraispano. Dikduk Lashon Hakodesh Belshon Sepharadith. Grammatica de la Lengua Santa.

<<FIRST EDITION.>> Text in Hebrew and Spanish. Hebrew words are pointed and followed by Spanish transliterations. Woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces. pp. (24), 336. Some worming, especially to inner margin, some water-staining and foxing. Contemporary limp vellum, stained, binding almost detached. 8vo. Palau 481466.

Lyons: Florian Anisson 1676

Est: $2,000 - $3,000
<<First edition of the first Hebrew grammar printed for the New World.>> No doubt a Marrano, Martin del Castillo was born in Burgos and studied Hebrew under the converso Rabbi Moyses (D. Francisco del Hoyo) while guardian of the Franciscan convent in Mexico. Although approved in 1656 the work was not printed until twenty years later due to the lack of printing facilities in Mexico that could accommodate a work with Hebrew type; thus Castillo had the book produced in Europe. The author remarks; “The distance between Mexico, in the New World, and Lyons, in the Old World, should excuse any writer from the blame that several misprints have occurred.” “The book is so rare that the author’s name…is given in Kayserling’s bibliography as Martyr del Castillo with a remark that it is the pseudonym of a Spanish Jew. Neither he nor Steinschneider gave the title of the book correctly.” See Alexander Marx, (Ed. M. Schmelzer), Bibliographical Studies and Notes on Rare Books and Manuscripts in the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. (1977) p. 171.