Conjeturas sagradas sobre los Prophetos primeros (Sacred Conjectures on the First Prophets). Two parts bound in one volume (Complete)
Leyden (Leiden): Thomas van Ge'el, 5482 (1722). First edition. Hardcover. Quarto (9 3/4 x 8"). [8], 426, [1] blank leaf, [1] leaf (Second title), 427-906pp. Contemporary full calf, with gold lettering and tooling to spine. Raised bands. Contemporary previous owner's inscription on front free endpaper: "Ce livre appartient à moi, Isaac de Mozes. Celui qui le trouvera aura à bonté de moi le .... en lui donnant une pièce de six sols pour la peine. Le 4 février 1730." Signed Eliez de Mozes. (This book belongs to me, Isaac de Mozes. The one who finds it and returns it to me will be given a coin of six sols. Dated February 4, 1730). Illustrated titles within woodcut order. Decorative head-, tailpieces and initials.
Published by Isaac de Acosta*, "Conjecturas Sagradas sobre los Profetos primeros" (Sacred Conjectures on the First Prophets), is a commentary in Spanish on the Early Prophets, based on the classical Hebrew commentators and the Midrash. It contains a new translation and a paraphrase of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings.
Binding heavily rubbed, with tail of spine missing. Sporadic clear water staining at upper margin of a few pages (never affecting lettering). Some minor worming along inner margin of pages 635 on (not affecting lettering). Fly leaf at rear partly disbound. Text in Spanish. Binding in overall poor to fair, interior in good to very good condition. f to vg. Item #43872
* About the author: Isaac (Yhsak) de Acosta (?- d. 1728), was a French Sephardi rabbi. Probably a native of Amsterdam, Acosta became hazzan of the Jewish community of Peyrehorade, near Bayonne, formed by Marrano fugitives from the Iberian Peninsula. His "Historia Sacra Real" (1691), dedicated to the wardens of the community, is one of the earliest manifestations of Judaism in this place. Later (apparently after an interlude in Biarritz) he succeeded R. Hayyim de Mercado as hakham at Bayonne, where he composed his handbook for the administration of the last rites to the dying, "Via de Salvacion" (1709; reprinted by M. Kaplan, Bayonne, 1874), and his major work, "Conjeturas Sagradas" (Leyden, 1722), a commentary in Spanish on the Early Prophets, based on the classical Hebrew commentators and the Midrash.
Price: $4,000.00