Shalsheleth Hakabalah “Sepher Yachya”

IBN YACHYA, GEDALIAH

Giovanni di Gara

Venice

1587

FIRST EDITION. With 8 leaf supplement. Marginalia throughout

Vinograd, Venice 718; Habermann, di Gara 98; not in Adams

One of the main sources for Renaissance Jewish history (EJ). The first book printed in the lifetime of the author (Roest, Anhang 2142). An encyclopedic melange of Jewish traditional history from Biblical days to the author’s time, together with a chronicle of the history of the Jews’ host societies. Includes a series of short essays on subjects ranging from numimatics, embryology, magic, ghosts, heavenly spheres and the after-life. The author’s curious mix of myth and legend contributed to the popularity of the work. With scholarly Hebrew marginal notes in a 19th century Italian hand. With references to Shem Hagedolim, and Kerem Chemed. Includes textual corrections and biographical details of the scholars cited in the work