Auction 41 · Lot 65

Sepher Ibronoth [astronomy and calculations of intercalation and the Jewish calender]

Estimate: $1,000–$1,500
Hammer price: Not recorded

Historical auction record. Hammer prices exclude buyer’s premium and taxes.

author

BEILIN, ELIEZER BEN JACOB

printer

Johann Christoph Beckmann

Place

Frankfurt on der Oder

Publication

1691

Description

Woodcut illustrations of scales of justice on f. 6a and b, hand-palm on f. 20b, spherical charts on ff. 25 and 28, mathematical tables and illustrations. Spherical charts with four volvelles (moveable spherical charts)

references

Vinograd, Frankfurt on der Oder 48

summary

The Jewish calendar is lunisolar; the months are reckoned by the moon and the year by the sun. The expertise required to make the necessary adjustments mandated an interest in astronomy by religious Jews. Maimonides devotes an entire section of his Mishneh Torah to what he lists as a positive commandment “to know how to determine which is the first day of each month of the year.” Sepher Ibronoth was prepared by Beilin as a manual “to help an individual fulfill these commandments.” See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth-Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, (1991) pp.197-8

ff. 36. Scattered marginalia, volvelles on f. 24a and 24b supported by other printed texts, two volvelles after f. 22 loose, ff. 26-27 loose. Ex-library. Contemporary vellum-backed boards, rubbed. Sm. 4to. Sold not subject to return.

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