Sefer Sha'ashu'im Le-Rabi Yosef ben Meir Ibn Zabara
Berlin: Eshkol, 1925. First edition. Hardcover. Small Quarto. 200pp.(2). Original blue paper-covered boards with gilt lettering, printers vignette and decorative ruling. "Sefer Sha'shu'im" by Joseph ben Meir Ibn Zabara: "(b. About 1140) , physician and Hebrew writer. Born in Barcelona, Ibn Zabara was a contemporary of some of the Tibbon family, of Maimonides and of Judah Al-Harizi; Joseph Kimhi praised his scientific knowledge in his Commentary to Proverbs. Like his father, he studied medicine and lived as an honored physician in his native town. Ibn Zabara became known through his Sefer Sha'ashu'im ('Book of Amusements') , one of the best maqamat written. This book is a literary account of his journey to several countries (southern Spain and Provence) with a physician named Joseph (nicknamed 'Einan ha-Shed' in the book) who came from afar and joined Ibn Zabara on the journey. Consisting of a collection of stories and proverbs within the framework of a background story, the intention of Sefer Sha'ashu'im, as the title indicates, is to amuse the reader. As it is usual in the genre, some secular poems are included before and within the prose sections. Apart from its literary value, this book contains valuable information on medicine and hygiene, natural science, psychology, and physiognomy. The book includes the earliest example of questions and answers on scientific topics in Hebrew rhymed prose. Text in Hebrew. Binding with some wear, mild fraying at tail of spine, bumped corners. Some soiling at left margin (1 inch narrowing to middle of page) of free endpaper. Light sporadig foxing at first ten pages. small waterstain at last five pages. Rear end paper vertically creased. Binding in overall good+, interior in very good condition. g+ to vg. Item #22735
Price: $125.00