RAHABI, DAVID. Ohel David [on the calendar, with astronomical and chronological tables]

(INDIA).

Joseph Proops for the Brothers Boaz

Amsterdam

1791

FIRST EDITION. Printer’s device on title. Folding plate at end. Marginalia (possibly by one of the Patrons) in French and Hebrew. ONE OF ONLY 50 COPIES. This copy from the library of The Noda B’Yehuda of Prague.

Vinograd, Amsterdam 2185.

The only Hebrew literary work penned by a Jew of Cochin. The Author was a leader of the Jewish community in Cochin, India, and son of the great Ezekiel Rahabi, influential merchant throughout the Malabar Coast and chief representative of the Dutch East India Company. Throughout the years of Dutch rule in Malabar (1663-1795) the Rahabi Family undertook to supply the Cochini Jews with all their literary needs via the Proops Family of printers in Amsterdam. Friedberg (Beth Eked, Aleph 873) notes only 50 copies were printed of this study on the origin of the Hebrew calendar and its comparison with the Hindu and Muslim calendar systems. This copy with presentation inscription (in French and Hebrew) by the publication’s patrons to Rabbi Ezekiel Landau of Prague on opening and closing paste-down end-papers.