Ir David. pp.(8), 92. BOUND WITH: Ænigma...R. Abrahm ben Hezrae de Litteris Aleph, Hae, Vav, Yud. pp.20

(MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL). LARA, DAVID COHEN DE.

and Leiden, Johan Zacharias Baron

Amsterdam, Nicolaes van Ravesteyn, 1638;

1658

FIRST EDITION. Prominent book-plate incorporating Hebrew (of Christological nature) of Johan Jacob Bentzius, dated 1691, on front paste-down

Fuks, Amsterdam 203 and Leiden 55

Haham of the Spanish-Portuguese Community in Hamburg, de Lara (c.1602-74) was an expert on classical literature and the writings of the Church Fathers. The first work lists and explains words of Greek and Latin origin found in the Talmud and Midrash. Bound in is Abraham ibn Ezra’s Hebrew riddle,with a Latin translation and commentary by de Lara. The only book with Hebrew types produced by van Ravesteyn. However: “The book presents a bibliographic puzzle. Although van Ravesteyn states on his title-page that he printed the book “with his own types,” the same book is also listed as a work from the presses of Menasseh ben Israel. In the sales catalogue of the ben Israel Officina which Menasseh’s son Semuel ben Israel Soeiro published in 1652, the work is listed as “Hir David Dictionario.” As no further data about the issue of de Lara’s work have come to light yet, it remains uncertain whether Menasseh really printed the work for for van Ravesteyn, or van Ravesteyn hired Mensasseh’s Hebrew types. There certainly must have been a connection with the Officina of Menasseh ben Israel.” Fuks, p.145