Bidspirit auction | CLASSICS. MA’ASEY TUVIA. FIRST EDITION.

CLASSICS. MA’ASEY TUVIA. FIRST EDITION. VENICE 1707! UNIDENTIFIED RABBINICAL INSCRIPTIONS. - Important Hebrew scientific encyclopedia by R. Tuvia (Tobias) Cohen on medical and natural sciences, geography and astronomy. Includes a discourse on the coming of Mashiach as well as an important historical section on the tragic saga of the false Messiah Shabtai Tzvi and his pseudo prophet Nathan of Gaza. Divided into three sections with individual title pages with many fascinating illustrations and diagrams including a full page copper-plate portrait of the author which appears on the verso of the title page. R. Tuvia (Tobias) Cohen (1652-1729) was born into a rabbinical family. He studied medicine at the University of Frankfurt. When the Lutheran faculty refused to admit Jewish students to doctoral examinations, he transferred to the University of Padua. Known as a Talmid Chochom as well as successful physician he later moved to Constantinople where he served as court physician to five successive Sultans. He retired to Yerusholayim where he dedicated himself to Torah study. He was a brother in law of R. Yair Chaim Bacharach (Chavas Yair) who quotes various Torah thoughts in his name. Stefansky Classics 513. Bragadin press. 6, 158 pages. 21 cm. Overall moderate/fine condition. Some wear, stains and repairs including on the title page and portrait slightly affecting text. Seemingly combined of two copies. Includes 3 title pages and various fascinating illustrations. Unidentified rabbinical inscription. Modern leather binding.