“Sefer HaMachbarot [book of notebooks] by Mr. Immanuel”. Immanuel son of Shlomo of Rome. Brecia (Italy), [1491]. Printing press of Gershom son of Moshe Soncino. First edition.
Incunabula. Printed without title page. Illustrations of twelve zodiacal constellations printed in ninth notebook. Among few books printed by Gershom Soncino in Warsaw. Soncino, among greatest Hebrew printers during his generation and in following generations, and for a while – only Hebrew printer worldwide; wandered throughout Italy with his printing instruments and printed books in Soncino, Brescia, Casalmaggiore, Barco, Fano, Pesaro, Rimini, Ortona and Napoli. Toward the end of his lifetime emigrated from Italy and continued printing books in Saloniki and Constantinople. Colophon: “The printing of this book, Machberet Immanuel, by youngest legislator Gershom son of Rabbi Moshe of the Jewish nation of Soncino completed here in Brescia… today Monday, 26 Marcheshvan 1491…”.
Immanuel son of Shlomo of Rome, Jewish poet and satirist and composer of commentaries on the Bible. Born in Rome in 1261 and passed away in 1330. After becoming impoverished he left his native land and roamed through Italy, until he found shelter by a patron of the city of Parma, where he composed his writings. Machbarot Immanuel is an anthology consisting of twenty eight chapters (“Machbarot”) produced by him. The book contains lengthy Maqams, integrated with songs, stories, allegories, dialogues and more, in the spirit of the Italian renaissance, as reflected by a wise Jew of that era.
[159] leaves, pamphlets 1-5 consists of 8 leaves, pamphlet 6 of ten leaves and pamphlet 7 of 2 leaves, pamphlets 8-20 of 8 leaves, and pamphlet [21] of 4 leaves (missing blank leaf at beginning of book). 18 cm. Good condition. Stains, tear restoration on several leaves, tear on upper corner of last page, restored and completed in handwriting. Notations. Ancient leather binding, restored with restoration of clasps.