Judaica
Important 17th Century Classic Work on Jewish Practices
1564-1629, Johannis Buxtorf I, "Synagoga Judaica"... - auspiciis authoris jam olim Latinitate donata; nunc primùm in vulgus emissa. Basileae: Impensis Ludovici König, 1641. 17 cm (8vo), Edited by Johann Buxtorf the younger; Translation by David Le Clerc, Some staining to the vellum cover and some browing and foxing, with the inside printed pages generally clean and About Very Fine.
"Buxtorf's observations of Jewish practice in Germany at the beginning of the seventeenth century are an invaluable source for the practice of Judaism, as it appeared to an admittedly biased, yet quite well informed, observer. His evidence as to Jewish belief is perhaps less reliable, since in Judaism belief is in any case a much more slippery and uncertain entity. Jews saw no great need to reconcile, for example, the conflicting views that are found in rabbinic sources on resurrection and the life of the world to come. The Jew was measured by his deeds, far more than by his thoughts or opinions, despite the fact that Spinoza was condemned for his evil opinions as well as his evil deeds. Buxtorf's use of the term synagogue is itself an indication of his distance from typical Jewish thinking. In Christianity the term "church" can mean both the physical building of stone, or bricks and mortar, in which worship is carried out, as well as the mystical abstraction which is beloved of Christ, and which places substantial moral imperatives on its adherents. Jews did not use the term "synagogue" in the second sense, but this is precisely the way that Buxtorf is using it in the title of his book. Medieval Christian art generally pictured this "Synagoga" as a beautiful young woman, carrying a snapped staff of authority, and having her eyes veiled from the truth, in contrast to "Ecclesia" a male figure in military dress symbolizing the Church Triumphant". (Ref: Alan D. Corré, [Ed and trans.], Synagoga Judaica (Juden-schül).
While we could not find another 1641 edition being offered or a prior sales record online, the Austrian Book dealer, Matthäus Truppe Buchhandlung & Antiquariat, had a later, 1728 German edition offered for $1209.00 as of late March, 2006 and this book has what appears to be a prior purchase price of (£)1325 which is circled in light pencil on the front inside cover.
A highly interesting complete English translation of the book has been thoughtfully placed in the public domain by Alan D. Corré, Emeritus Professor of Hebrew Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and can be viewed at www.uwm.edu/~corre/buxdorf/.
Important 17th Century Classic Work on Jewish Practices
1564-1629, Johannis Buxtorf I, "Synagoga Judaica"... - auspiciis authoris jam olim Latinitate donata; nunc primùm in vulgus emissa. Basileae: Impensis Ludovici König, 1641. 17 cm (8vo), Edited by Johann Buxtorf the younger; Translation by David Le Clerc, Some staining to the vellum cover and some browing and foxing, with the inside printed pages generally clean and About Very Fine.
"Buxtorf's observations of Jewish practice in Germany at the beginning of the seventeenth century are an invaluable source for the practice of Judaism, as it appeared to an admittedly biased, yet quite well informed, observer. His evidence as to Jewish belief is perhaps less reliable, since in Judaism belief is in any case a much more slippery and uncertain entity. Jews saw no great need to reconcile, for example, the conflicting views that are found in rabbinic sources on resurrection and the life of the world to come. The Jew was measured by his deeds, far more than by his thoughts or opinions, despite the fact that Spinoza was condemned for his evil opinions as well as his evil deeds. Buxtorf's use of the term synagogue is itself an indication of his distance from typical Jewish thinking. In Christianity the term "church" can mean both the physical building of stone, or bricks and mortar, in which worship is carried out, as well as the mystical abstraction which is beloved of Christ, and which places substantial moral imperatives on its adherents. Jews did not use the term "synagogue" in the second sense, but this is precisely the way that Buxtorf is using it in the title of his book. Medieval Christian art generally pictured this "Synagoga" as a beautiful young woman, carrying a snapped staff of authority, and having her eyes veiled from the truth, in contrast to "Ecclesia" a male figure in military dress symbolizing the Church Triumphant". (Ref: Alan D. Corré, [Ed and trans.], Synagoga Judaica (Juden-schül).
While we could not find another 1641 edition being offered or a prior sales record online, the Austrian Book dealer, Matthäus Truppe Buchhandlung & Antiquariat, had a later, 1728 German edition offered for $1209.00 as of late March, 2006 and this book has what appears to be a prior purchase price of (£)1325 which is circled in light pencil on the front inside cover.
A highly interesting complete English translation of the book has been thoughtfully placed in the public domain by Alan D. Corré, Emeritus Professor of Hebrew Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and can be viewed at www.uwm.edu/~corre/buxdorf/.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 18th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
