Espejo de la vanidad del mundo ["Mirror of the Vanity of the World"], by Abraham Pereyra. Amsterdam: Alexandro Ianse, 1671. First edition. Spanish, with some words in Hebrew.
An ethical work comprised of five parts, discussing the nature of the soul, the duty to perform the mitzvot, fear and love of God, punishment in Gehinnom and reward in Gan Eden.
The book bears the approbations of three rabbis of Amsterdam, R. Yitzchak Aboab de Fonseca, R. Moshe Refael de Aguilar and R. Yoshiyahu Pardo; as well as praise for the author by R. Yitzchak Orobio de Castro and a poem in praise of the author by Daniel HaLevi de Barrios.

The author, Abraham Pereyra (d. 1699), a descendant of Marranos and a rich and influential merchant, lived in Amsterdam where he was a leader of the Jewish community. The present work was written to bolster Jewish faith, while making heavy use of Spanish Catholic political thought.

[16] leaves, 568 pages, [4] leaves. 20 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dampstains. Small tears to title page (the leaf is mounted on paper for reinforcement). Large open tear affecting text to one leaf (repaired with paper), and a large open tear to last leaf, not affecting text. Close trimming, slightly affecting headers of leaves. New leather binding.

PLEASE NOTE: Item descriptions were shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to Hebrew text.