Incunable!
Nofes Tzufim. Mantua, 1475
One of the very first sefarim printed by the Hebrew press!
Nofes Tzufim by Rabbi Yehuda Masir Leon, one of the illustrious 15th-century Italian sages.
This was the first Hebrew book printed during the author’s lifetime!
This valuable sefer was printed by the renowned printer and doctor Abraham Kones of Mantua, one of the pioneers of the Hebrew press.
The present sefer, Nofes Tzufim, is dated by bibliographers based on assorted evidence as having been printed in the year
1475. (See more information below).
Abraham Kones of Mantua was a scholar, doctor and philosopher who began by copying sacred manuscripts and then proceeded to found the Hebrew press in Mantua. It was Kones who stamped his works with the famous inscription, “
Who writes with several quills at once without miracles”. (See colophon at end of the present work.)
Kones made use of Ashkenazic-Italian type which was unique to his press and bears a strong resemblance to handwriting. The original printers designed their fonts to match assorted manuscripts that they had at their disposal, and this is affirmed by several bibliographers including Rosental in Yodeah Sefer (Amsterdam, 1875 #1360) who writes: “The letters of this book are different in their shape and resemble handwritten text, and anyone who sees this work will assume it is a manuscript.” Yalnick writes similarly, “Its appearance is that of a manuscript, and it is extremely valuable.” (Nofes Tzofim, Vienna, 1864). Haberman postulates that Kones designed his type based on his own handwriting (Hamadpis Abraham Kones V’osiosav).
Content: Rhetoric and guidance for lecturers; the structure of a proper lecture and how to employ the faculty of speech based on principles of grammar and parables. Integrated with the philosophical and linguistic teachings of Rabbi Yehuda Masir Leon.
Rabbi Yehuda Masir Leon (circa 1425-1498) was one of the great Italian sages of the 15th century. Aside from his wisdom in Torah, halachic rulings, responsa and commentary, he was widely acclaimed for his brilliance in medicine, philosophy and Hebrew grammar.
Mantua, 1475. First edition. Page Count: [176].
Page Size: 20 cm.
Complete Beautiful Copy; high-quality white paper with only minor stains.
Provenance: Yechezkel Toporowitch Collection
Bibliography: Stefansky, Incunable p. 401. For information regarding the printing year, see Tishbi, Dfusei Eres Ivri’im, Kiryat Sefer, 60, 1985 pp. 887-890 #15; Yakirson, Catalog of Hebrew Incunables, Library Collection of Beth Hamedrash L’Rabbanim in America vol. 1 #13, and in the preface p. 14.
549 Years!
This work symbolizes the survival of the People of the Book and our legacy – our holy sefarim!
Incunabula
Incunabula (plural of incunable) are books printed in Europe prior to the year 1500. The word derives from the Latin term ‘cradle’ or ‘swaddling cloth’, connoting the infancy of the printed word. While the incunable period actually stretches across a half-century, from 1445-1500, the first Hebrew presses opened only two decades later, and thus the period of Hebrew incunabula was reduced to a mere thirty years, from 1469-1500.
It is estimated that there were around two hundred Hebrew works printed during the incunabula period. Today, bibliographers are aware of some 140 titles, although many are incomplete copies.
Incunabula are desirable collectibles, highly sought-after by antique Judaica collectors. The greatest libraries in the world vie for the quantity of incunabula in their treasured collections.
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