Auction 14 · Lot 306
Mateh Dan-Cuzari Chelek Sheni
- Estimate
- $10,000–$15,000
- Hammer price
- Not recorded
Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.
author
NIETO, DAVID
printer
Thomas Ilive
Place
London
Publication
1714
Description
ALL THREE ISSUES OF THE FIRST EDITION: HEBREW-SPANISH, HEBREW ONLY AND SPANISH ONLY.
Together, three volumes. Each issue with decorated titles - architectural arch incorporating portrait-roundel of Judah the Prince flanked by armour-suited angels. Printed in two columns
references
Vinograd, London 24-5; Roth, London 5; Kayserling 77
summary
ALL THREE ISSUES OF THE FIRST EDITION OF HAHAM NIETO’S MAGNUM OPUS - INCLUDING THE PARTICULARLY SCARCE SPANISH ONLY ISSUE (Solomons traced only three complete copies extant).
Haham of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue in London, David Nieto (1654-1728) composed the Mateh Dan as a defence 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.
For a Census of the Spanish issue of the Mateh Dan see Israel Solomons, David Nieto and Some of His Contemporaries, in JHSET, Vol. XII (1931) pp.26-7
i: Hebrew-Spanish Issue: ff.(11),254. Two title pages (first remargined). The N.S. Libowitz Copy. Foxed.
ii: Hebrew Issue: ff.(6),118. Title laid down
iii: Spanish Issue: ff. (6),272. The Guido Bedarida Copy (see EJ IV col.369) with his bibliographic notes on endpapers. Small portion of title neatly repaired on verso slightly affecting right arch
First two vols. modern leather-backed boards, third contemporary mottled calf, finely rebacked. All three volumes housed together in modern fitted-case. 4to
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