Bidspirit auction | Kitzur Smag, With Latin Translation

Kitzur Smag, With Latin Translation – Basel, 1533 – First Edition – Controversial Work - Mitzvot Lo Taaseh UMitzvot Aseh, Praecepta mosaica sexcenta atque tredecim – Kitzur Smag, an abridgment of Sefer Mitzvot Gadol by R. Moshe of Coucy by an unknown author, with translation and additions in Latin by Sebastian Münster. Basel: Heinrich Petri, [1533]. Hebrew and Latin. Separate title pages for Hebrew and Latin parts. First edition of Kitzur Smag. The identity of the author of this work sparked a controversy. No manuscripts of this work are known. Some (such as the Chida) attribute the abridgment to R. Moshe of Coucy himself, while others attribute it to Sebastian Münster, the translator and editor, who authored it for polemical purposes to ridicule Judaism. Bibliographer Joseph Prijs demonstrates the Hebrew text was not authored by Münster, and R. Avraham Chavatzelet suggests an author among the exiles of the Portuguese Expulsion in 1497. See enclosed material. In many copies, two leaves with principles of Christianity were defaced (by Jewish owners of the book). In the present copy the leaves are intact. Latin inscriptions on blank leaves at end of Latin part. Printer's device on last leaf of Hebrew part. [168] leaves; [80] leaves (last three leaves of Latin part blank). Approx. 15 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains at beginning of Hebrew and Latin parts. Tears, including open tears to title pages of both parts, repaired with paper. New leather binding. Joseph Prijs, Basle, no. 37.