(Commonly misattributed to Jonah Gerondi). Isur Veheter [dietary and medical laws]

ASCHKENAZI, JONAH

Abraham ibn Usque

Ferrara

1555

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch with the printer’s device of an armillary sphere resting on a scroll with a verse from Psalm 130:5 (illustrated EJ, XIII col. 1094 no. 7). Wide-margined copy. Important marginal notes and corrections mostly in the hand of R. Yaakov Treves (known as R.Yaakov Brisker), with his signature on the titlepage

Vinograd, Ferrara 32; Adams J-312; Amram pp. 280-2

The printer, formerly known as Duarte Pinel, fled his home in Portugal, for safety in Italy, following the unmasking of his heretofore concealed Marrano identity in 1550. Usque was responsible for the appearance two years earlier of the celebrated “Ferrara Bible” - the first edition of the Old Testament in Spanish - a testament to the tolerance and liberal sentiment of the brilliant Renaissance court of the princely Family of Este, rulers of the Duchy of Ferrara The author was a disciple of the Terumoth Hadeshen, R. Israel Isserlin. The printed notes on the margins were written by the editor R. Azariah b. Shimon known as R. Ziskind of Posen. The marginal notes were written by a scholarly member of the famous Treves family whose branches produced Rabbis and scholars in many countries throughout Europe