Berachiah ben Natronai HaNakdan (Benedictus le Puncteur). Mishlei Shu’alim [“Fox Fables,” Hebrew version of Aesop’s Fables]

Estimate: $2,000–$3,000
Hammer price: Not recorded

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

author

(FABLES).

printer

Joseph ben Jacob of Padua

Place

Mantua

Publication

1557

Description

FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural arch. With rare final leaf containing printer’s mark.

references

Vinograd, Mantua 44; Mehlman 1261.

summary

Collection of fables synthesizing the European Aesopian tradition with animals who converse in a Biblical Hebrew comfortably interspersing their conversations with Talmudic aphorisms. Final three pages contain a description of the game of chess written in an elegant rhymed prose by Bonsenior ibn Yachya. For a brief discussion of the author and summary of the text, see M. Steinschneider, Schach bei den Juden (1873) pp. 86-7; and V. Keats, Chess, Jews and History (1995) pp. 182-85 (illustrated).

ff. 87 (1). Mispaginated in places. Previous owner’s signature on title, opening three leaves starting, tear on lower portion of f. 60 affecting few letters, some staining. Contemporary tooled calf, worn, lower edge of front cover taped, gutter split. 12mo.

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