Anticritica: seu Vindiciae Veritatis Hebraicae: Adversus Ludovici Cappelli Criticam quam vocat Sacram eiusque Defensionem
Basileæ (Basel): Ludovici Regis, 1653. First edition. Hardcover. Large octavo (8 1/4 x 7"). [16], 1026, [26]pp. Contemporary full vellum with handwritten title in ink on spine. Printer's device to title page. Decorative head-, tailpieces and initials.
Buxtorf's "Anticritica" is a rebuke of Louis Cappel's second important work "Critica Sacra" (1650), a book highly controversial from a theological point of view as the author endeavored not only to demonstrate that the Hebrew vowel-points were a novel invention, but also that - based on the various readings in the text and the differences between the ancient versions and the Masoretic text - the integrity of the Hebrew text, as held by Protestants, was intenable.
Vellum age-toned, slightly darkened and partly soiled. Ex-library copy, with bookplate on inside of front cover (Sutro Library, San Francisco, California), and previous owner's Ex-Libris on front free endpaper (Wm. R. Blumenthal). Minor to moderate age-toning throughout. A few pages are heavily foxed. Text in Latin. Binding in overall good, interior in good to very good condition. g to vg. Item #41146
Price: $950.00