De Templo Hierosolymitano, by R. Jacob Judah Leon. Helmstadt: Jacobus Mullerus, 1665. Latin with some Hebrew.
R. Jacob Judah Leon's famous book describing the Temple in Jerusalem, its rituals and customs. The book was originally composed in Spanish, and comprised four engraved plates, a folded engraved map with a detailed legend, an engraved title page and engraved portraits of the author. Bound with: De Cherubinis tractatus (Amsterdam, Theodorum Boetman, 1647) an essay concerning the Cherubim situated above the Ark of the Covenant.

R. Jacob Judah Leon Templo (1603 – after 1675), a 17th century Torah scholar in Amsterdam. Born in Portugal to a family of Spanish exiles, he studied in Amsterdam under the rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community, R. Yitzchak Uziel. He was renowned for his books on the prominent Biblical structures and utensils – the Tabernacle, Solomon's temple, and the Ark of the Covenant, which R. Leon described for the first time based on contemporary scientific knowledge. His pioneering work earned him renown throughout Europe, and drew the attention of contemporary rulers – King Charles II, William II Prince of Orange, and Augustus Duke of Brunswick (who commissioned German translations of the works). Following the success of his books, R. Judah Leon created a model of Solomon's temple with small scale utensils, earning the nickname of "Templo".

19 leaves, 62, 55–203, [1] pages (mispagination) + 1 engraved title page + [2] engraved portraits + [1] folded engraving + [1] folded map + [4] engraved plates; [4] leaves, 23 pages. 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. Ink markings and inscriptions. Worming and tiny holes to several leaves. Margins of Cherubinis tractatus trimmed; leaves remargined without damage to text. Fine parchment binding, worn and stained. Defects and abrasions to edges of binding and spine. Label remnants on spine.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.436.