Bidspirit auction | Post-Incunabulum: Sefer Ha-Ikkarim – Jewish

Post-Incunabulum: Sefer Ha-Ikkarim – Jewish Faith and Philosophy. Venice, 1521. - Sefer Ha-Ikkarim, the classic work on the fundamental principles of Jewish faith and philosophy by Rabbi Joseph Albo. [Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1521]. Early Edition. lacking copy. Sefer Ha-Ikkarim was one of the most sought-after and widely studied works of Jewish philosophy. The first edition was printed by the Soncino family. When Daniel Bomberg issued the present edition, he incurred the wrath of Gershom Soncino, his foremost rival in Hebrew printing, who quickly published what he described as a ”corrected” edition the following year (1522). In the introduction to his edition, Soncino launched a scathing attack on the present printing, writing: ”Certain men arose and presumed to print it anew, thereby distorting its appearance... Not only did they omit essential passages, but they turned yes into no, and the reverse... They have committed a disgrace in Israel... until they have cast it into the pit of destruction.” In Part III, Chapter 25, the work includes a question posed by a Christian scholar to the author, together with Rabbi Albo's response, which contains sharp criticism of Christian doctrine. Because of this passage, Sefer Ha-Ikkarim was later placed on the list of works subject to ecclesiastical censorship. With manuscript annotations and brief notes in a Sephardic hand. Stamped with the ownership seal of the Menachem Zion Beit Midrash, located in the Hurvat Rabbi Yehuda HaHasid synagogue complex. [140] leaves. The title page, leaves 67–69, and one additional leaf have been supplied in high-quality facsimile closely matching the original. 20.2 cm.