A Relation of the Most Memorable Thinges in the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Salomon, by R. Jacob Judah Leon (Templo). Amsterdam: Peter Messchart, 1675. English.
First English edition of two essays by Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon (Templo) – a
work on the Tabernacle, and a work on Solomon's temple. These works were first published in Spanish, containing a detailed scientific reconstruction of the two structures, their various utensils, and rites, based on the Bible, Tractate Middot, and the writings of Flavius Josephus. The book opens with a prayer in honor of Charles II, king of England, pleading protection of the kingdom's Jews (Rabbi Judah Leon was invited to the king's court, and present to him a scale model of the temple of his own making).

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".

[4] leaves, 27 pages. 18 cm. Stains. Minor defects. Tear to title page, repaired and marginal open tear to another leaf (not affecting text). Tear to (blank) endpaper, not repaired. Leather covered binding, with abrasions and defects. Cloth spine with strip of original spine (with book title lettered in gilt).

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB.435.