Sepher Tziyoni [Kabbalistic homilies to the Pentateuch, with poems]

MENACHEM TZIYONI BEN MEIR OF SPEYER

Vicenzo Conti

Cremona

1560

Second edition. Title and chapter headings with woodblock historiated initials

Vinograd, Cremona 31; Benayahu, Cremona 27 and pp.80-3 (illustrated); not in Adams

Upon issue, the entire first edition of one thousand copies of the Tziyoni issued in 1559 was seized and destroyed by the Dominican Friars of Cremona zealously seeking to enforce Pope Paul IV’s Index of that year. Despite Pope Paul IV’s Bull “In Coena Dominis,” a bare handful of copies survived. See D. Amram, the Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1963) pp. 310-15. Concerning the typographical variants between the first and second editions, see M. Benayahu, Ha’dephus Ha’ivri Be’Cremona (1971) pp.79-83 (illustrated). For information on the author, his descendents and his kabbalistic method, see Sh. Weiss, Tsefunei Tziyoni (1985) introduction; and B. Huss, Demonology and Magic in the Writings of R. Menahem Ziyyoni, in: Kabbalah, Vol. X (2004) pp. 55-72.