“Sabetha Sebi Iudeorum Rex, Smirnæ in Asia natus ætatis 40 / Sabetha Sebi Coninck der Iodĕ geboren te Smirna in Asia 40 iaeren out” [“Sabbatai Zevi, King of the Jews, born in Smyrna, Asia, at the Age of 40”]. Engraving by Cornelis Meyssens, printed by Ioannes Meyssens, [probably Antwerp, ca. 1666].

Sabbatai Zevi (1626–1676), native of Izmir (Smyrna), a Jew widely regarded as the most famous of false prophets in Jewish history. He was the cult figure at the center of the Sabbatean movement, which gained a sizable following throughout the Jewish world within just a few years, and managed to maintain a significant circle of adherents through the remainder of the 17th century and well into the 18th. Sabbatai Zevi was arrested in 1666 by the Ottoman Turkish authorities, who apparently offered him the option of converting to Islam as the only alternative to the death penalty. He ultimately chose to convert, and a fair number of his disciples followed in his footsteps. These developments gravely distressed the entire Jewish world.
This engraving was evidently printed simultaneously with the printing of the engraving bearing the portrait of Nathan of Gaza (see following item).

Approx. 17.5X12.5 cm. Very good condition. Glued to paper.

Rare.
Provenance: Private collection.