Der Gantz Jüdisch Glaub [The Complete Jewish Belief]

MARGARITHA, ANTON.

(Melachior Lotther)

(Leipzig)

1531

Second (“expanded and improved” Edition. German interspersed with Hebrew. Woodcut vignette on title with five further woodcut illustrations, colored by hand. Title woodcut by Jan de Breu. Initial letters within historiated woodcut vignettes by Hans Holbein. Scattered Latin marginalia

Freimann, p.148; Rosenberger Catalogue, Judaica (HUC, 1971), p.385, fig.107; Rubens 228-232; Carlebach, pp. 186-7 (figs. 12-13); not in Adams

Apostate Anton Margaritha - his surname a corruption of Margaliouth - was born circa 1490 and converted to Catholicism in 1522. Publication of Margaritha's book, designed to expose the supposedly subversive nature of Judaism, prompted Charles V, the first Habsburg emperor, to order Josel of Rosheim, leader of German Jewry, to appear at a disputation at the Imperial Diet of Augsburg in 1530. This was the first time in history that a Spanish-style disputation took place on German soil. Called upon to defend Judaism against the apostate's charges, Josel won a resounding victory. The Imperial Commission subsequently had Margaritha arrested and summarily expelled him from Augsburg. See E. Carlebach, Divided Souls: Converts from Judaism in Germany, 1500-1750 (2001), pp. 50-51