Wolf Ehrenfried von Reizenstein. Der Vollkommene Pferde-Kenner [“[A Guide for] the Complete Horse-Expert.”]

(GERMANY).

Joh. Simon Meyer

Uffenheim

1764

Two volumes bound in one. German text with smattering of Hebrew. With engraved frontispeice and 28 plates, some folding. Charming head and tail-pieces and printer’s ornaments.

A comprehensive equestrian and veterinary manual with a most interesting 36-page supplement that comprises a dictionary with some 1,500 Yiddish and Hebrew terms - indeed entire phrases - transliterated into Gothic letters and with German translation. This is followed by five lengthy sample dialogues intended to aid Gentiles in understanding the dialect used by Jewish horse-traders speaking in their distinct Hebreo-German dialect. The inclusion of such an unusual appendix was likely in order to enable Germans avoid being at a commercial disadvantage, and instead, obtain a linguistic insight into the discussions conducted between their Jewish competitors - for the trade in livestock in Central Europe was a predominantly Jewish one. (A lengthier description available upon request).