“Sefer HaMachbarot by Mr. Immanuel”. Immanuel son of Shlomo of Rome. Brescia (Italy), [1491]. Printing press of Gershom son of Moshe Soncino. First edition.
Incunabula. Printed without title page. Illustrations of twelve zodiacal constellations printed in the ninth chapter. Among the few books printed by Gershom Soncino in Warsaw. Soncino, among the greatest Hebrew printers during his generation and in following generations, and for a while – the only Hebrew printer worldwide; travelled throughout Italy with his printing tools 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… 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 commentator on the Bible. Born in Rome in 1261 and died in 1330. After losing his fortune, 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. He wrote Machbarot Immanuel - an anthology of twenty eight chapters (“Machbarot”). the book contains lengthy Maqams, integrated with songs, stories, allegories, dialogues and more, in the spirit of the Italian renaissance, as reflected by a Jewish sage of that era.
[141] leaves (originally 160 leaves; lacking 19 leaves). Contains the following signatures: 2-5 (8 pp.), 6 (10 pp.), 7 (2 pp.), 8-19 (8 pp.), another leaf of signature 20/21. 20 cm. Overall good condition. Stains and traces of dampness, tears and worming to several leaves (in some places minor damage to text). Paper-filling restorations of damages and tears. Several detached leaves. Unbound.