28 60 IBN TIBBON, JUDAH. Ru’ach Chen [introduction to philosophy]. Title within woodcut historiated architectural arch flanked by cherubs. Opening word within decorative four-part border with armory. Few marginal notes in Italian. Signed by censor on final blank page. ff. 20 (collates as per Adams and Benayahu). Signatures excised. Bound in Valmadonna-custom dark mahogany blind-tooled calf. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Cremona 44; Benayahu, Cremona 36; Mehlman 1187; Adams J-404.] Cremona, Vicenzo Conti, 1566. $800 - $1200 ❧ Expounds philosophical terms and concepts contained in Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed. The author states in the preface, “the Spirit of Grace (Ruach Chen) emanating from the Guide has caused me to explore and unmask its closed gates.” 61 IMMANUEL BEN JEKUTHIEL OF BENEVENTO. Livyath Chen [on grammar and prosody]. FIRST EDITION. Title within woodcut architectural arch. Couple of marginal notations. Title page with signature of Yitzchak b. Yehudah Frankinsohn. ff. (8), 108. Two introductory leaves shorter, few light stains. Bound in Valmadonna-custom chestnut blind- tooled calf, titled in gilt on spine. Sm. 4to. [Vinograd, Mantua 39.] Mantua, Jacob ben Naphtali Hakohen, 1557. $1000 - $1500 ❧ The author, a highly regarded Italian Kabbalist, helped facilitate the first printing of the Zohar in Mantua in 1558. A mystical element clearly influences the Livyath Chen, indeed passages from the Zohar are found therein. See I. Tishbi, Kovetz Perakim, Vol. I, pp. 148-153. 62 IMMANUEL BEN SOLOMON OF ROME. (Manoello Giudeo). Sepher Machbaroth Immanuel. Second edition. Title within woodcut architectural border. Title-page with inscriptions by members of the Halfon Family of France, as well as David Vitali. ff. (156). Browned, lightly stained in places. Bound in Valmadonna-custom full limp vellum with twin silk ties, titled in gilt on spine. 4to. Housed in fitted slip-case. [Vinograd, Const. 153; Yaari, Const. 119; Adams I-53.] Constantinople, Eliezer ben Gershom Soncino, 1535. $2000 - $3000 ❧ Sepher HaMachbaroth is the most important work of Immanuel ben Solomon of Rome (ca. 1261-1328), poet, scholar and author of both Hebrew and Italian texts. Combining poetry and prose on subjects as diverse as love, wine, and friendship, along with satires, epistles, elegies and religious poems, Sefer HaMachbaroth represents a unique example of the blending of traditional Jewish together with secular Italian literature that characterized much of the Jewish literary output during the Italian Renaissance. With his linguistic artistry and use of skillful wordplay, Immanuel sets a tone that is generally light-hearted and witty. Due to certain lewd sections, R. Joseph Karo famously forbade the reading of this text and consequently, a further edition did not appear for another two centuries. According to Cecil Roth, Immanuel of Rome was “the most remarkable and the most important figure of the Renaissance period in the Jewish world.” See C. Roth, The Jews in the Renaissance (1959) pp. 89-103. Lot 62 Lot 61 Lot 60