RICCI, Paolo (1480-1541)

RICCI, Paolo (1480-1541)

De sexcentum & tredecim mosaice sanctionis edictis. Eiusdem Philosophica: prophetica: ac talmudistica pro christiana veritate tuenda cum iuniori Hebreorum synagoga mirabili ingenij acumine disputatio. Pavia: Giacomo Burgofrancho, 1510.

First edition of a collection of four cabalistic works. Extremely rare: no copy cited in ABPC or RBH. From the library of the French humanist Nicolas Maillard. Paolo Ricci was a convert to Christianity from Judaism and personal physician to Emperor Maximilian I. He knew and was admired by Erasmus, and in 1521, was named Professor of Hebrew at Pavia. He translated several Jewish and Muslim texts. His Latin works, particularly his translation of the cabalistic work the Shaare Orah, formed the basis for early 16th-century Christian ‘Cabala’, along with the works of Reuchlin and Pico. The first work in this collection concerns the 613 edicts of the Mosaic law, followed by a defence of the Christian faith on philosophic and Talmudic grounds. The third work is an introduction to the learning of the Kabbalists, and the fourth is a compendium of the nine categories of doctrine and its relation to the dogma of the philosophers. The ‘Conclusiones\' in the fourth work in this collection refers back to Pico\'s ‘Conclusiones’. The volumes contemporary owner, Nicolas Maillard, humanist scholar from Rouen, edited editions of Pliny (1511), Eutropius (1512). He was inspired by Erasmus to study Greek, and is mentioned with favour by Erasmus in his correspondence. He was later appointed to the faculty of theology at the Sorbonne. Kristeller 134. Caillet 9396. ‘Edition originale rare de ces quâtres traités du célèbre philosophe de l’école kabbalistique fondée par Reuchlin et Pic de la Mirandole.’ CNCE 49589.



Quarto (210 x 148mm). Four parts in one, each with separate title and foliation, first two titles in red and black with small woodcuts, Burgofranco’s white-on-black printer’s device at end of first 3 works, white-on-black floriated initials (title just extended at lower margin and rehinged, minor dust soiling and occasional spotting). Contemporary French calf, blind ruled to a panel design, outer and central panel with a repeated blind scroll of Renaissance vases, signed with initials F.B. (not in Gid, Bib. Maz.) evidence of four ties (rebacked, preserving original spine, corners restored, endpapers renewed, a little rubbed). Provenance: N Maillard (d. 1565; inscribed on title with mottos in Latin and Greek, and at end) — Sedan library (early title inscription lightly washed) — Daniel M Friedenberg (bookplate).